Two stoppage-time goals added some gloss to a hard-fought and at times combative 3-0 win for Bury away at West Didsbury and Chorlton.

The Shakers were without talismanic forward Benito Lowe so Dan Cockerline made his first start for the club in an otherwise unchanged lineup.

From the start, Bury were on the back foot. West’s Billy Matthews fired wide of goal inside the opening minute of the match and also hit the post with a rasping shot with Bury keeper Harry Wright well beaten. Wright would be called upon again to make a save from a West free-kick.

The Shakers struck back, Andy Scarisbrick weaved his way past two defenders but couldn’t find power behind his attempt on goal while a promising Connor Comber free-kick was lofted into the trees behind the Shed End. Comber made amends on the half-hour mark; after Charlie Doyle won the ball in midfield Cockerline was able to lay the ball off to Comber who fired well into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

The home side’s response was almost immediate. Straight onto the attack, Harry Wright was adjudged to have fouled an oncoming West forward and a penalty was awarded. The stopper saved the resulting spot-kick to the delight of the visiting section of the crowd.

The game turned on a moment just before the break. West Didsbury and Chorlton number 10 Rhain Davis was judged to have caught Doyle in the face by referee Ciaran Williams who pulled out a straight red card.

That wasn’t the end of the disciplinary issues on the pitch for either side, however. Early in the second half and with the match still in the balance West full-back Matthew Smyth flew in with a late challenge on Doyle in front of the Bury bench. The referee once again reached for his red card to reduce West Didsbury to nine but Bury would not get to enjoy a two-man advantage. Joe Duckworth was handed a sin bin for his reaction as Bury were briefly down to ten men.

In fact, Bury would never enjoy a two-man advantage in the match, barely a couple of minutes after the dismissal of Smyth Mr Williams reached for his red card for the third time in the afternoon to send off Comber for an off-the-ball incident. With Duckworth still to return the two sides carried on in a nine versus nine contest.

The match was still finely poised, Comber had been the danger man having one effort cleared off the line and another that ended up in the back of the net ruled out for offside shortly before his sending-off. Manager Dave McNabb needed someone to step up, his introduction of Andy Briggs changed the match.

Briggs made an instant impact. He combined well with the returning Duckworth who fired on goal but saw his effort blocked. Briggs then had a shot cleared off the line as the visitors pushed on to extend their lead. The addition of fellow substitutes Anton Smith and Lewis Gilboy added fresh attacking impetus as the Shakers began to turn the screw on an increasingly overwhelmed West Didsbury. Gilboy had a shot well saved by Elliot Wynne in the West Didsbury goal in the 90th minute and deep into added time Bury finally got the goal they had been searching for with Anton Smith finishing from close range.

Bury further added to their goal tally, Briggs in on the attack was tripped in the box in the final minute of added time. The referee once again pointed to the spot and Briggs blasted a powerful effort down the middle leaving Wynne with no chance.