Shakers two points clear at the top after narrow win over Nantwich Town

Tom Carr picked the perfect time to score his first Bury goal as the Shakers emerged victorious over Nantwich Town 1-0 at Gigg Lane.

Four changes were made to the side that drew on Easter Monday. Oscar Threlkeld and Mo Touray were recalled after missing out against Clitheroe while Kai Evans and DJ Pedro both started in what looked to be a very attacking lineup.

The hosts started the match well and from an early corner Rustam Stepans and Louis White both saw shots blocked by the Nantwich defence. The Shakers kept the pressure on with crosses sent into the Dabbers box but all were repulsed. Tom Carr had the best opportunity but his final pass to Kai Evans was picked out at the last moment by visiting keeper Ben Garratt.

Up against his former club Evans looked determined to get a goal, he got onto the end of a DJ Pedro cross after good build up work by Touray but the Welshman headed his chance over the bar. Out on the right Stepans managed to keep a ball played forward by Touray in play and sent a long cross that found Evans but he blazed the shot off target.

As the first half wore on Bury chances began to dry up and while the away side were mostly contained they had the best chance of the half just before the break. A long passage of play saw the Dabbers pass around the Bury team leading to former Shaker Aidan Roxburgh being played in on goal. His shot cannoned off him and wide, a real let off for the home side.

As the second half began the rain and hail fell hard on Gigg Lane. As it abated the Shakers won a free kick in a dangerous area. Evans stepped up to take it but sent his effort high and wide.

The pressure eventually told however. Evans beat a defender to the ball and broke into the box. He could have taken a shot himself in search of the goal he had been chasing all day but chose to square it to teammate Carr who had an open net to finish into.

It should have quickly become 2-0. With Nantwich forced to come out and challenge the Bury lead gaps began to open at the back. Substitute Lewis Rawsthorn teed up Owen Robinson to shoot. His thunderbolt effort had most of Gigg Lane already up celebrating but his shot bounced back off the post before Jordan Lazenbury had his rebound deflected wide.

With the lead Bury continued to play positively but saw good chances wasted. Lazenbury won some chances in the air but no one ever seemed to be in the right place at the right time to win the knockdowns. Stepans cut in from the right and saw a shot saved by Garratt and a quick one-two move between Rawsthorn and Luca Navarro saw the latter shoot over.

A late injury to goalkeeper Mitch Allen caused some worry in the Bury camp, the stopper continued but ceded goal kicks to outfield teammates. With time moving slowly the lead suddenly felt narrow.

Frayed nerves were on show in the last few minutes as Nantwich enjoyed more possession than they ever had during the match and the Bury defence had to work even harder to deny a clear sight of goal. With such an attacking side defending was not their strong suit and a second goal felt necessary.

Bury very nearly had it as well. Rawsthorn battling out at front alone managed to win the ball and shoot across himself towards the far corner but the ball just rolled wide of the post.

In the last minute of added time the away side won one last corner sending everyone up including goalkeeper Garratt. Luckily for Bury it ended only with a shot well over the bar.

The full time whistle sounded giving the Shakers another crucial three points. The lead at the top remains at two points but with just a pair of matches left in the campaign every win is priceless.