A first-half goal by Cameron Fogerty was all Bury needed to secure a 1-0 victory away at FC St Helens completing their tenth consecutive league win.

The trip marks the first of a St Helens double header for the Shakers with the visit to nearby Pilkington to come next week. This first leg was perhaps judged to be the tougher challenge against an FC St Helens side still holding onto faint hopes of a play-off place.

Manager Dave McNabb was able to name a largely unchanged Bury team. The welcome return of Aaron Chalmers from injury the only addition from last week’s win over Barnoldswick Town.

From the start the visitors looked the more likely side to take the lead. DJ Pedro on the attack was felled in the box but the referee waved away the early penalty appeals.

The Shakers have made particular good use of defender Reece Kendall’s long throw ability of late and their next chance came from a throw-in. The ball fell nicely for Rustam Stepans to attempt an overhead kick but he could only direct his effort straight at the home goalkeeper.

Joe Mason the St Helens’ stopper was at the centre of things again when he quickly denied two strong Bury chances. The first saw Pedro beat his marker to a long ball over the top. He shot from a tight angle only to see Mason block his effort. The ball made its way out to the wings and was crossed back into the box by Stepans. Lewis Byrne got a good head to the ball but Mason palmed the effort over his crossbar.

Mason then denied Stepans again from a close-range volley before foiling a Pedro header saving at the bottom corner of the goal.

Lewis Byrne had Bury’s best chance to shoot from point-blank range but fluffed his lines as he received a cross from Pedro on the right-hand side. The ball ran onto Stepans but his effort was deflected wide.

The opening period of play had been one-way traffic but the Shakers could not find the goal they craved. Aaron Chalmers forced another great save from Mason heading on a Stepans free-kick to the bottom corner and Pedro had another shot saved by the brick wall Mason.

Chances for the Shakers began to dry up as the half came to a close, though the home side were never able to mount a serious challenge of their own. As the break approached Bury pushed hard again, Josh Gregory the latest to be denied by Joe Mason before he was finally beaten. Cam Fogerty got in behind the defence thanks to a quick one-two passing move with Gregory before lifting the ball over the onrushing Mason to grab a deserved lead for the Shakers just before half-time.

Bury ought to have doubled their advantage shortly after the restart. DJ Pedro heading a Kendall throw in over Mason and towards the open goal. Stripes defender Harry Hagar bailed his overworked keeper out with a goal-line clearance that ricocheted away from goal off the post.

While the Shakers were content to keep the hosts at bay their own chances were harder to come by in the second half. Lewis Byrne had an opportunity to score, intercepting a back-pass and getting around the St Helens goalkeeper but the Bury forward ran out of space and the chance was lost. He was later replaced by Ruben Jerome who nearly scored with his first touch from a Stepans free-kick but the ball was deflected wide. Josh Gregory had a free-kick of his own but placed his effort over the bar.

Of greater concern for the visitors was the loss of Reece Kendall who hobbled off with an ankle injury while Bebeto Gomes also saw long treatment for a knock and was ultimately substituted for Nicky Adams.

Bury however saw the match out comfortably, Shakers goalkeeper Mitch Allen leaving the pitch at full time with his all-white kit in near pristine condition.