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Bury 1 Macclesfield Town 0

Trevor Baxter
24/ 4/2008

ELLIOTT Bennett will be a big loss to the Shakers when he returns to Molineux after his eye-catching loan spell.

Under the watchful eye of a Wolves official, Bennett bagged his first goal for Bury in his penultimate game for the club as Alan Knill’s side bounced back from the previous week’s 3-0 battering at Barnet to keep Macclesfield sweating over their League Two status.

Bennett has certainly played his part in Bury’s end-of-season revival that would be capped off by defeating arch-rivals Rochdale at Gigg Lane this weekend.

The 19-year-old, who previously impressed while on loan at Crewe earlier in the season, said: "It was good to score when Wolves had somebody here watching me.

"However, I don’t know what’s going to happen next season.

"I’ve got another year at Wolves and if they get to the Premiership it’ll be good for me because I would then be classed as a Premiership squad player. However, it’s going to be harder then to get into the side so it’s a double-edged sword for me.

"All I can do is my best and if my best is not good enough then I’ll move on. But if it is good enough then brilliant.

"There are lots of young players at big clubs like Wolves that may turn their noses up at coming to clubs like Bury.

"All I can say to them is that they are stupid.

"There is nothing like playing on a Saturday or a Tuesday night in a league game that you need three points from."

Bennett found the top corner with a sweeping strike after poor defending and an Andy Bishop lay-off. But, in truth, the 43rd minute goal, which followed Paul Scott’s effort which was disallowed for off-side, was one of the few highlights of a drab derby contest.

There were certainly no happy returns for ex-Bury midfielder Terry Dunfield and recent director of football Keith Alexander.

"I don’t think we had a shot on goal," lamented Macc boss Alexander. "We saw a lot of the ball but went down with a whimper.

"I don’t think our keeper had a save to make and their keeper certainly didn’t."

Bury, who lie 14th in the League Two table, defended exceptionally well on Saturday with Efe Sodje particularly impressive.

They welcomed back Paul Scott from suspension and Steve Haslam from illness and the result represented Bury’s fifth home win on the bounce – a feat they have not achieved since 1997.

Bury, who missed good scoring chances via Bishop and David Buchanan, now have two more derbies to finish the season and try to better their total of 58 points in the 2004/05 campaign.

Indeed, Bury fans will want their side to deny Rochdale an automatic promotion place if at all possible.

Bennett said: "You don’t want your local rivals coming here and winning. If we keep winning then more people around Bury will be talking about Bury winning games and doing well. That can get more people in and that support can only help the team next season."

Team: Provett, Scott, Futcher, Sodje, Haslam, Baker, Bishop, Buchanan, Adams, Bennett, Rooney (Hurst, 75mins). Subs not used: Stephens, Grundy, Rouse, Anane. Goal: Bennett, 43 mins. Attendance: 2,506.