RYAN Cresswell could find it hard to win back his place after an immaculate display at the heart of Bury’s defence was blighted by a late red card.

The 21-year-old centre back forged a watertight partnership with the equally impressive Efe Sodje, limiting in-form Port Vale to just one serious attempt on the solid Shakers’ goal.

But Cresswell made the dreaded walk in the 88th minute after a late challenge on Vale substitute Simon Richman resulted in a second bookable offence.

Alan Knill believed Cresswell’s first yellow card for alleged persistent fouling was harsh, but the Bury boss admitted: “It could cost Ryan his place.

“Ryan took his chance two games ago and he has been outstanding. He was our best player against Cheltenham last week and he was up there again this week.

“But Ben Futcher will now be desperate to take his chance and it could be that Ryan has to sit it out when he has served his ban.”

Cresswell’s dismissal took a little of the shine off Bury’s third away win of the campaign, but Knill added: “It was a great result because Vale had been playing really well and not many people gave us much chance.

“We had to soak up some pressure at times, but Wayne Brown has only had one real save to make.

“There was an element of good luck about our goal, but you make your own luck in football and I felt we deserved it.”

The fit again Michael Jones came in for David Worrall, who was demoted to the bench, as the only change to the team beaten by Cheltenham a week earlier.

And Jones wasted no time in making an impact as his seventh minute shot led to Bury’s first goal in six games.

The midfielder tried his luck with a left-foot strike from 20 yards and Ryan Lowe made a decisive deflection to register his third goal of the season.

Lowe’s connection completely wrong-footed Chris Martin, with the Vale goalkeeper unable to prevent the ball from creeping over the line.

Vale certainly held most of the territorial advantage in the first half, but there was only one real scare in the 19th minute.

Louis Dodds fastened on to a pass from Doug Loft to fire a shot which Brown did well to keep out, with the keeper plunging to his left.

Bury began the second half in confident fashion and Jones came within inches of doubling their lead in the 55th minute.

He did not connect with his shot properly after striding into the right corner of the penalty area, but the ball still had enough sting to strike the foot of the far post.

Andy Bishop had a venomous shot charged down by John McCombe, with the Bury striker’s appeals for a penalty for handball cutting no ice with former Premiership referee Andy D’Urso.

Mr D’Urso then deemed it necessary to send Cresswell for a slightly early bath, but that didn’t stop the Shakers holding out in some comfort.

Bury Brown, Scott, Cresswell, Dawson, Baker, Bishop, Barry-Murphy, Jones, Lowe, Sodje, Newey. Subs: Buchanan, Futcher, Racchi, Worrall, Belford, Elliott.

Attendance: 5,641 (372 Shakers).