Mellon’s Shrews shaken up at Bury
DESPITE seeing Sullay Kaikai light up Gigg Lane with two excellent finishes Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon was still left wondering what might have been as his side spurned two points.
The on-loan Crystal Palace winger thundered home the opener from 25 yards and then danced through the Shakers’ defence to give the visitors a 2-1 lead after Tom Soares’ header for Bury levelled things up.
But despite plenty of chances it was the home side who got a goal back midway through the second period as defender Peter Clarke shot through a crowd of players to earn a share of the spoils.
“In the first half we were excellent, we played some great football and with a couple more goals we could’ve been out of sight,” sighed Mellon.
“We expected Bury to come back at us in the second half, they haven’t got the fifth best league record at home for nothing.
“We had five or six counter attacks and that’s where we have to be better and punish them. I couldn’t fault the battling from the players.
“Some of the set plays Bury were whizzing in were as good as I’ve seen, so we did well to deal with them.
“Kaikai was incredible, fantastic, both finishes are terrific. It was a pity he couldn’t push on for his hat-trick but that would just be me being greedy.”
Kaikai opened the scoring when he cut in from the left and smashed the ball past Chris Neal on 15 minutes.
The visitors dominated before Soares rose to head Chris Hussey’s corner home, although parity was short-lived as Kaikai dribbled clear and finished with confidence.
Bury were on top after the break with Clarke finding the net to earn a draw that Shakers boss David Flitcroft admitted could have been all three points. “We looked really threatening from set pieces, more so than we’ve done over last six to seven weeks,” he said.
“I’m delighted with Nathan Delfouneso. He’s fitted in well and linked up well. I was delighted with his contribution, it was like he’s been here all season. I can see a Delfouneso-Clarke partnership in the near future.
“For 40 to 50 minutes we looked a real threat. Every time we attacked we looked dangerous.We were full of intent and that’s what I want to see. It’s my job now to make sure the team can do it over 90 minutes.
“In the second half we should have been out of sight. I won’t say I’m happy with a point because I want all three but their goalkeeper has had an absolute worldy.
“We’re back in work on Monday to prepare for a tough game on Friday.”