Bury back to winning ways with home win against Kidsgrove

Back at home and back to winning ways Bury comfortably swept aside Kidsgrove Athletic 2-0 at Gigg Lane thanks to second half goals from Tyler James and Kai Evans.

The Shakers had some respite from their recent injury woes with Oscar Threlkeld returning to the team and claiming the captaincy for the first time. Owen Barker and Regan Riley both returned to the bench though the injury list continues to provide a selection headache.

Straight from kick off the home side were on the attack. DJ Pedro sent a cross from the right towards Tyler James but he just missed the connection.

There was a strong penalty shout when Kai Evans getting in behind Kidsgrove keeper Ryan Brown went down under pressure from the stopper. The referee waved away the appeals instead awarding a corner. From the subsequent set piece a heavily marked Pedro nearly pulled off an impressive finish, backheeling an effort that only found the side netting.

While Bury enjoyed the lion’s share of possession there was little in the way of action in the opening half as the Kidsgrove defence held firm and didn’t allow the hosts a chance to break the deadlock. At the other end Mitch Allen was similarly underworked, only a corner that landed on the roof of the net caused any sort of trouble in the Bury box.

After the break there was a new sense of urgency in the Bury ranks and soon chances were being created. Pedro laid the ball off to Threlkeld to shoot, his outside the box effort was well saved by Brown. Bebeto Gomes sent a cross to Kieran Glynn, the pass was cut out and the subsequent shot from Evans cleared the crossbar.

The visiting Kidsgrove side struggled to cope under the relentless pressure and couldn’t clear their lines, eventually Bury would find a way through. Pedro teeing up Tyler James to fire into the bottom corner and give the Shakers the lead.

There was nearly a quick second goal Glynn curled the ball to the far post but Pedro was just too late to reach it.

Kai Evans then took control of the match. Getting on the end of a rehearsed corner his initial effort was blocked, the ball came back to him and his second shot was just wide. The Welsh wizard was not to be denied again however cutting inside to shoot from the edge of the box he found the far bottom corner to double the Shakers’ lead.

Evans again in the thick of it set Pedro free on goal. His shot was pushed round the post for another corner with Tyler James free in the middle.

The visitors never came close in the second half but did enough to stem the tide of shots against them. There might have been a final goal late on for Bury, substitute Owen Barker firing into the side netting after being played in by man of the match Evans.

The win was much needed for the Shakers after a difficult couple of weeks on the road but they will hope their excellent form at Gigg Lane can be replicated away from home.