Bury gained a measure of revenge over Liverpool side Lower Breck avenging their 2-1 away defeat in September with a 2-1 victory of their own at Gigg Lane, writes James Beedie.

Lower Breck’s win over the Shakers proved to be the final match for former manager Andy Welsh, his replacement Dave McNabb has steered the Shakers to the top of table with ten matches left to play ahead of Lower Breck’s visit.

There were a couple of changes to the starting lineup with captain Tom Moore returning to the heart of the Bury defence while fellow centre back Oli Jepson missed out through suspension. Andy Kellett was handed a rare start at number 10 while latest signing Miles Storey would begin the match on the bench.

Bury started the match positively, with Sam Burns seeing an early shot narrowly miss the far post after good work down the left wing. Arthur Lomax-Jones got closer with a thumping effort that rattled the Lower Breck crossbar. There were further chances with Kellett seeing a good shot blocked by a defender and Gaz Peet felled in the area was denied a penalty by the referee.

The Shakers got the goal their efforts deserved from their returning skipper. After an initial corner was partially cleared the ball found its way back to Billy Reeves, his second attempt found the unmarked Tom Moore just in front of goal as he powered a header into the bottom corner to give the home side a deserved lead.

That lead however did not last long. Lower Breck had been a threat themselves during the first half with Tom Douglas firing an early shot over the bar and Lewis Buckley proving a handful at centre forward. It was the big number nine who equalised for the visitors just before the break. Afforded too much time and space, Buckley brought down a long ball turned and fired well into the bottom corner.

The second half was far less open than the first had been with chances coming at a premium. The home side struggled again resolute defending and difficult conditions to try and find a winner.

Forward Benito Lowe already on a yellow card collided with Breck keeper Theo Roberts with the entire away team surrounding the referee calling for a dismissal. The referee waved away the complaints though perhaps sensing the fine line Lowe would now be walking McNabb introduced Miles Storey for his debut. The tall forward made his presence felt holding the ball up well and creating chances for his new teammates.

One of those chances fell to Arthur Lomax-Jones, his shot was spilled by the keeper and out of a corner. Pressing on from that chance Bury’s left wing back scored what proved to be the winning goal. Storey had broken into the box and got the ball to Burns, he pulled the ball back to the oncoming Lomax-Jones who fired a deflected shot into the bottom corner.

Bury could have put the match beyond doubt late on with two separate one on one chances for both Andy Scarisbrick and Miles Storey. Both however missed the target and a chance for Bury fans to breathe a little easier. In the end the Lomax-Jones goal proved enough to secure the three points as the Shakers made another big step towards their promotion push.