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Northwich Victoria 2 Bury 2

Dave Lawrenson
7/ 8/2008

BURY rounded off what has been a highly promising pre-season campaign with an entertaining draw at Conference club Northwich.

They failed to hit the heights of their 1-1 stalemate with Championship giants Sheffield United last time out.

But Saturday’s physical and energetic encounter was just what the doctor ordered on the eve of this weekend’s big kick-off at Brentford.

There does not seem to be any problems with Bury’s fitness levels – which is the most important thing at this time of year.

And the new players look to be gelling well with the members of last year’s squad.

But it was the tried and tested combination of Glynn Hurst and Andy Bishop which posed most of the problems for Northwich.

They have developed an almost telepathic combination up front over the last few years and will be expected to be Bury’s main source of goals again in the forthcoming League Two season.

Hurst, who has rarely let the side down when played through the middle, continued his impressive pre-season form by bagging a brace of goals here.

He enhanced his reputation for being a natural finisher by tapping in from an incisive move on 33 minutes and by ghosting in to provide a far post finish to Bishop’s precision cross five minutes later.

Bishop later uncharacteristically fired high and wide when well placed while Michael Jones missed a guilt-edged early chance.

Ben Futcher and Elliott Bennett also came close to netting for the Shakers, who fielded pretty much their strongest available side.

But Northwich, who have been showing good pre-season form, had their fair share of chances too in what was an even contest.

Bury keeper Wayne Brown pulled off a superb save to deny Northwich trialist Mike Aspin a late winner.

He also excelled in keeping out efforts from Jamie Mullin and Darryn Stamp.

But he had no answer to Joel Byron’s 10th minute volley or to Mullins’ calm bottom corner finish after he had outpaced Bury’s defence to give himself a one-on-one situation on 75 minutes.

Utility skipper Paul Scott plus defenders Efe Sodje and David Buchanan were carrying respective hip, knee and dead leg injuries going into the game and manager Alan Knill wisely opted not to risk them.

As a result, Futcher, Steve Haslam and trialist Paul Tierney were recalled to the team.

Team: Brown, Tierney, Haslam, Futcher, Cresswell, Baker, Hurst, Bishop, Barry-Murphy, Jones, Bennett. Subs used: Dawson, Racchi, Anane, Thompson, Dorney, Belford, Rouse, Buchanan. Goals: Buchanan (2).