Bury blitz Chasetown 4-0 with Evans brace and Massey’s first goal

An irresistible first half performance saw Bury convincingly beat top of the table Chasetown 4-0 thanks to a first goal from Gavin Massey, a brace by Kai Evans and a strike from DJ Pedro.

Despite the club’s announcement in the week of two new signings neither made it straight into the starting lineup though Owen Barker earned a spot on the bench. Oscar Threlkeld made his full debut in the centre of the park for the Shakers and DJ Pedro was chosen to start up front. In opposition the table topping Scholars were lead out by Nathan Cameron, the promotion winning Bury captain now the skipper at Chasetown.

From the off the hosts played positively. An early Pedro header from a free kick went harmlessly wide while a better chance by Kai Evans saw his cross flash across goal but no man in white was available to finish it.

Kieran Glynn saw a penalty appeal denied, and Pedro spotting an opportunity tried to lob the goalkeeper. The Chasetown stopper Curtis Pond initially spilled the chance but quickly collected. At the other end Tom Thorley saw a promising volley fired wide of goal.

The deadlock was broken in the 9th minute. A long ball forward aimed towards Gavin Massey looked to be lost to either the Chasetown goalkeeper or Nathan Cameron but a collision between keeper and his captain gave Massey the chance to claim the loose ball and an open goal to pass into to give Bury the lead.

The Shakers soon doubled their advantage, DJ Pedro chased down Cameron and won possession. He pulled the ball back to Kai Evans who curled a shot into the top corner beyond the reach of Pond.

It was quickly followed by a third Bury goal. A Connor Pye cross to Pedro was saved by the keeper’s fingertips. However from the resulting corner kick the ball made its way to the unmarked Pedro at the far post and he powered home to make it 3-0.

The visitors were at a loss. They had only conceded four goals all season up to this point but let in a fourth before the break at Gigg Lane. A classy flick on by Pedro found Massey, his burst down the left wing lead to a cross that found Evans again who finished well from close range for his second of the day.

It could have even been more before halftime; a Kieran Glynn free kick curled just wide of the far post while a contested DJ Pedro header from an Evans cross was put wide.

The Chasetown team must have faced a tough talk in the dressing room at halftime. They were late to emerge for the second half and made two changes when they did.

The talking to seemed to create results Bury had far fewer clear cut chances after the break and Chasetown came close to claiming a goal back themselves.

First a Ty Webster free kick found Nathan Cameron. His thumping header, all too familiar to the Bury faithful, was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Mitch Allen. Then Jordan Evans won an aerial battle with Bebeto Gomes and struck towards goal but Allen was equal to the chance.

The Bury keeper, underworked in the first half, had to stay sharp in the second. Seeing a Todd Ferrier strike late he did well to turn the shot away for a corner. While Joey Butlin was booked for simulation after falling over Allen as he claimed a loose ball.

The Shakers did try to find a fifth goal, Rustam Stepans just on as a substitute chased down a clearance, won the ball, played in Gomes, received the ball back from his full back and sent in what could have been a great assist had it not been intercepted at the last moment.

Sam Wilding the Chasetown full back saw an all too tame shot easily saved by Allen but the Bury keeper’s finest moment came late on as Butlin pounced on a misplaced back pass. Presented with a one on one chance with the freedom of Gigg Lane the Chasetown centre forward could only vent his frustration as Allen made himself big and made a crucial save to keep a well deserved clean sheet.

There could have been a late flourish for Bury as Gabe Johnson went on a trademark mazy run and his cross found fellow substitute Stepans. The winger’s header however was tipped wide by Pond.

Ultimately the first half goals were all Bury needed to record a handsome victory and leapfrog the Scholars up to second place in the table.