Late winner seals 3 points for Bury, encouraging promotion hopes

Bury left it late to beat Stafford United on Saturday to increase their winning streak in the league to three games.

The Shakers did go behind twice during the game but turned it around in stoppage time as Rustam Stepans cut inside and curled one past Callum Smith.

Bury started the game in a dominant fashion, creating a number of chances, namely shots from Bebeto Gomes and Kai Evans, but it was Stafford who took the lead through Jack Birch, as the bury Defence failed to clear a long throw in, and Birch volleyed it home.

The first half ended with Stafford in the lead, looking more threatening, especially from their long throw ins.

Bury started the second half in a similar fashion to how they started the first, looking very dominant, and they reaped the rewards from a deflected shot from Kai Evans after a wonderful mazy run through the defence just six minutes into the half.

Bury kept the pressure on and continuously threatening the Stafford goal, but it was the visitors who took the lead, after Dan Cockerline held up the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box before a curled a shot into the bottom corner left the hosts stunned.

Dave McNabb then looked to his bench and brought on Gabriel Johnson, and the decision paid off immediately as Johnson got on the end of a Regan Riley cross, with a looping header and what seemed to be the substitutes first touch.

With both sides pushing for a winner and getting good chances, Bury were forced into a goal line clearance from Stafford’s dangerous corner. At the other end of the pitch, DJ Pedro almost got a foot on a cross by Gabriel Johnson.

In the end, it was the hosts who got the winner through another substitute, Rustam Stepans in the 92^nd minute, with a curled effort past Callum Smith, who was left with no chance.

It was a third win out of three for the shakers, who now have moved up to third in the table with a game in hand over the top two.

Josh Banner, Shock Sport

Image Credit : Christopher Meers Photography