Bury edge past Chasetown to stay unbeaten in the league

A first half strike by Leo Graham was all Bury needed to triumph away at Chasetown. The 1-0 victory sees the Shakers back to winning ways and maintains their unbeaten league record so far this year.

With Tim Lees unable to make the trip to Staffordshire, Sam Ashton led the side for the afternoon as Bury named two changes to last week’s draw. Rustam Stepans and Lewis Rawsthorn would start in place of Owen Robinson and Cal Spooner in what looked to be an attacking Shakers lineup.

Facing them was a Chasetown side just on the outside of the playoffs and boasting one of the better defences in the division. The opening minutes were spent with either side making tentative moves against the other. Eventually it was Bury who started to create chances.

A Bebeto Gomes cross worked its way over to Mo Touray who placed his shot just wide. Touray then tried to return the favour playing in the open Gomes but his effort was off target.

Lewis Rawsthorn intercepted a defensive pass and was clear in on goal but unfortunately couldn’t put enough power behind his attempt and the keeper saved the shot. Joe Piggott got closer, teed up for a shot he made a thumping effort towards the bottom corner but Curtis Pond in the Scholars net saved well to push the ball out for a corner.

It was by no means one way traffic however, the hosts came close to scoring as well. With a Nathan Cameron header cleared off the line from a corner and following a later scramble in the Bury box from a Chasetown free kick Oscar Threlkeld had to be on hand to block a shot within the six yard box.

It was Bury though who continued to look most likely to score, Piggott saw a deflected shot whistle just wide of the post while Leo Graham played in Rustam Stepans to shoot but he only found the side netting.

The crucial goal came, Piggott beat out Cameron racing for the ball on the right hand side. He played in Gomes who rushed into the open space left in the Scholars backline and crossed the ball to Graham who calmly placed the ball into the back of the net.

After the break the hosts pushed hard for an equaliser but the Shakers defence held firm. An early shot took a deflection to bounce wide and from a corner Chasetown got off a shot but placed it narrowly wide. At the other end a Graham cross flashed across the face of goal but no Bury man was there to meet it.

Gradually the visitors started to exploit on the counterattack finding gaps in the home defence. Gomes won the ball in the final third, he sent a cross into the box that the keeper parried away but no one in yellow was there to follow it up. Later Touray played in Stepans who saw his shot beat the keeper but get cleared off the line.

The second goal seemed close, Touray set up substitute Owen Robinson who crossed to Graham but he could only get a toe on the ball and shot spun wide of the mark. Bebeto Gomes intercepting a pass ran from deep in his own half to the edge of the box and set up Touray to shoot on goal. The effort took a deflection and bounced just wide.

As the match wore on and the one goal lead looked increasingly narrow the Shakers were put under great pressure. Chasetown dominated possession for the last ten minutes or so and Bury found it difficult to clear their lines or keep the ball. However the defence performed exceptionally never offering the home side a clear sight of goal.

The closest the Scholars came to a leveller came from a Luke Yates shot that flashed wide of goal and a close range effort that Mitch Allen saved well. They continued to threaten with many set pieces flung into the box but the Bury defence were up for the challenge.

A final late goal could have settled it for either side but the closest Bury came late on was from another counterattack. Touray played in Robinson to shoot but he put his effort over the bar. Fellow substitute Kai Evans tried his luck from the byline in the closing moments earning a corner from Curtis Pond’s save.

The final whistle rang out and with other results going Bury’s way the Shakers find themselves moving on from the frustrations of recent weeks and are now within touching distance of top spot.