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A good start

Dave Lawrenson
14/ 8/2008

BURY have made a promising start to the new season, deservedly winning their League Two opener with Brentford 1-0 and giving Championship side Burnley a run for their money in a 2-0 Carling Cup defeat.

The Shakers worked hard, looked well organised and played some good stuff in both home games. But Burnley’s extra class told at a rain swept Gigg Lane on Tuesday night with a brace of goals from Northern Ireland international Martin Paterson sealing their passage into the second round.

Paterson turned in Christian Kalvenes’ pinpoint left wing cross which caught out Bury’s static defence on 39 minutes.

But battling Bury stayed well in contention until Paterson netted his second goal in the 90th minute, tapping home after a close range shot from ex-Manchester United midfielder Chris Eagles had been saved by Wayne Brown.

Paterson also hit the bar while Eagles, who was watched by ex-United teammates Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville from the stands, should have done better after being set up by the front man.

But Bury had some chances too, especially in the second half, as they acquitted themselves well against a team who are two divisions above them in the Football League pyramid.

Elliott Bennett had a fizzing drive tipped over the bar, the impressive Stephen Dawson was thwarted by a good save before firing a thumping shot just wide, Glynn Hurst and Bennett were frustrated by a double goal keeping block following Michael Jones’ dangerous cross and new striker signing Andy Morrell had a couple of decent penalty shouts turned down after entering the fray as a 65th minute substitute.

The Shakers fielded the same side in Saturday’s league game against Brentford, which saw Andy Bishop secure the three points with an exquisite strike.

In the build up to the game manager Alan Knill brushed off Bishop’s failure to find the net in pre-season, insisting that his star striker would come good.

And Knill was certainly proved right on Saturday as Bishop dragged the ball passed his marker on the edge of the box with his right foot and smashed it into the near corner of the net with his left.

The 42nd minute goal followed good work from Hurst and Jones.

The Shakers handed three new signings their competitive Bury debuts in keeper Brown plus midfielders Dawson and Jones.

And, after recovering from a nervy start to proceedings, Bury always looked the better side.

Hurst should have given Bury a 2-0 success but he could only find the post when Bennett’s pass put him clean through on goal in the 70th minute. Paul Scott, Ben Futcher and Jones also came close to scoring for the Shakers while Brown pulled off a superb reaction save from Brentford’s Alan Connell.

Marcus Bean and Nathan Elder also threatened for the visitors while Dawson cleared a shot off the line. But Brentford were restricted to long-range efforts in the second half as Bury defended their lead exceptionally well.

Team against Burnley: Brown, Scott, Sodje, Futcher, Buchanan, Bennett, Barry-Murphy, Dawson (Baker, 83mins), Jones, Hurst (Morrell, 65mins), Bishop. Subs not used: Cresswell, Racchi, Anane, Belford, Rouse. Attendance: 4,276.

Team against Brentford: Brown, Scott (Cresswell, 90mins, Buchanan, Futcher, Sodje, Bennett, Dawson, Barry-Murphy, Jones (Racchi, 90mins), Hurst (Baker, 84mins), Bishop. Subs not used: Belford, Rouse. Attendance: 2,819.