Stepans and Graham strike as Shakers seal Boxing Day victory

Goals either side of halftime from Rustam Stepans and Leo Graham saw Bury run out 2-0 winners over Clitheroe on Boxing Day despite being reduced to ten men late on.

There was one change to the Bury team, James Nield returned to the starting eleven as right back. While Bailey Sloane the former Bury youth and Bury AFC player made the bench having joined from Tottington United.

In front of a bumper crowd of 5,337 the Shakers had a few half chances, DJ Pedro got the ball caught under his feet having been played in and had another attack drawn back for offside.

It was the visitors who had the best early chances. Veron Parny hit the crossbar with a great effort while a Harry Scarborough shot was saved point blank by Mitch Allen.

The hosts began to grow into the match. A Pedro cross was just out of the reach of Owen Robinson and Cal Spooner saw a long range effort palmed onto the post by Clitheroe keeper Zac Hadi.

Rustam Stepans cut inside and had a shot saved low by Hadi while a mix up between the keeper and one of his defenders allowed Bebeto Gomes a quick chance to shoot on goal. The lob just drifting wide.

Bury would take the lead before halftime from the penalty spot. Spooner sent a great ball forward that Bobby Carroll reached. The Clitheroe keeper Hadi had committed himself but missed the ball and clattered the man. The referee immediately awarded the spot kick and for the second time in a week Stepans coolly slotted away from twelve yards.

After the break the Shakers looked very much in control, a counterattack by Pedro saw him square the ball to Robinson but neither he nor Leo Graham could get a shot away. A Stepans cross found Robinson at the far post but Hadi saved well.

A long ball was sent towards the Clitheroe half. Pedro standing offside, left the ball as all visitors eyes were fixed on him. However the unnoticed Leo Graham burst between two defenders claimed the loose ball and fired beyond the unprepared Hadi for his first senior goal doubling Bury’s advantage.

The Shakers were quickly in search of a third goal the finish the tie, substitute Kai Evans raced through on the counter and hit the side netting though he could have played in Pedro who would have likely had an easy finish. Robinson played in Graham who had his shot deflected away.

It wasn’t all one way traffic however as Jack Morris tested Allen with an effort from range and Parny had a half volley from inside the box punched away by the Bury stopper who was also called upon to save a late free kick.

Pedro so nearly made the result safe with a great one-two move with Graham that saw his rifled effort smack against the post but the Shakers forward would have an early finish to the match.

Already booked from an earlier mistimed challenge Pedro went in late and unnecessarily on a Clitheroe defender and received a second yellow card and his marching orders for his troubles.

Bury were left to improvise a target man for the rest of the match. Evans put a shot wide and nearly set up Graham with a pulled back pass from the byline. The rest of the team however held firm and saw out the win. The latest victory giving Tim Lees his third win from three.