A brace by Djavan Pedro saw Bury return to the top of the table in a 2-1 win away to Stockport Town.

Entering the day on the back of a big win the Shakers made only one change from the Lower Breck clash. Connor Pye was preferred to Gaz Peet at left-back, Bobby Carroll taking over the captaincy duties. Latest signing Aidan Walker would have to wait for his chance to play as he took a spot on the bench.

From the very beginning, Bury took control. An en masse attack immediately put the hosts on the back foot. An early Nicky Adams cross worked its way to Ruben Jerome who was tripped in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Pedro blasted the penalty beyond the keeper to give the away side the lead after only four minutes.

The Shakers continued to push their advantage finding success with a high-pressing game that caught Stockport Town out more than once. Connor Pye slipped the ball through to Jerome, he crossed the ball into the box but found no man in yellow to tap the effort home. Rustam Stepans saw a dangerous cross knocked away for a corner whilst Tyler James and Nicky Adams both saw shots blocked by an overworked defence before Bury got a deserved second goal.

Good work down the right-hand side between Stepans and Adams saw the latter beat the offside trap and float a cross to the far post. Pedro was waiting and rose highest to head in his second of the match and his twentieth goal for Bury in just his 18th appearance for the club.

At the other end, the home side tried to spark a comeback the Bury defence had to work hard to contain the big centre-forward Marcus Kouam whilst attacking midfielder Jack Atkinson fired a 30-yard shot over Mitch Allen’s crossbar.

An impressive first half nearly ended on a sour note for the Shakers as Ruben Jerome was booked for a foul that many spectators believed was soft. When Jerome caught a defender late just before half-time hearts were in mouths that Bury might be reduced to ten men. Jerome escaped with a warning this time but was swiftly substituted for Lewis Byrne at the break.

Stockport Town came out into the second half on the attack and got their first shot on target from a free kick Kouam forcing a good save out of Allen.

Bury should have grabbed a third goal soon afterwards. An Adams cross was headed back across goal by James to Byrne. He was unable to take a first-time shot and by the time he could shoot a defender was there to make the block. The rebound fell to Pye and then to James who both had chances cleared off the line before the ball was steered away for a corner.

Cam Fogerty then sent a sweeping shot wide of the far post after being set up by Pedro. The striker played provider once again heading the ball onto Byrne. His heavy touch denied him a shot of his own but he crossed the ball to James who saw a last-ditch interception by a Town defender deny him finishing into an open goal.

The match was becoming more open but still no more goals were scored. Jack Atkinson saw a shot well saved by Allen at one end before Pedro intercepted a pass and set up Byrne for a shot. Only the brave intervention by Stockport keeper Jordan Schofield kept the score at 2-0 to the Shakers.

As time wound down Bury might have hoped for a comfortable finish but were disappointed to let in a late goal. Atkinson finally scoring the goal he had threatened slamming in a knock-down from a cross that beat Allen to the bottom corner denying the Bury defence what would have been a deserved clean sheet.

With the lead now reduced to one, despite the glut of chances the away side had enjoyed, the closing minutes passed slowly for the travelling faithful. Once the final whistle sounded Bury could at last enjoy another three points gained, results elsewhere confirming the Shakers returned to the summit.