Hope sets Shakers free with a double
BURY boss David Flitcroft has called for his team not to get too carried away after they rose to third in League One with victory away at Swindon.
Hallam Hope bagged a first-half double to give the Shakers a 2-0 half-time lead.
Jon Obika pulled one back midway through the second period but Bury showed utter resilience to weather a fierce Swindon storm and wrap up their fourth win on the bounce.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the three points,” Flitcroft said.
“It’s been a good day but we can’t get carried away with a win down at Swindon. I thought first half Swindon were keeping possession for possession’s sake and we took full advantage.
“I don’t know if there’s another team like them in the league. When they play like that you want to see the other side of your team. You want to see the willingness to go further than you have ever before. It mentally tries to break you, the way that they play.
“I wanted to see that resilience and they have got it in abundance.”
Bury took the lead inside 13 minutes when Zeli Ismail stood up a wonderful cross for Tom Pope who was denied by Will Henry, but Hope was on hand to sweep the ball home. Controversy struck ten minutes later when Obika prodded Sean Murray’s shot past Ben Williams to equalise, but it was ruled out when the assistant referee raised his flag extremely late for offside.
The game grew tighter as half-time approached, but a moment of individual brilliance from Hope doubled Bury’s lead as he rounded the last defender and coolly slotted past the keeper.
Bury were forced to defend deeper in the second half and Swindon pulled one back in the 64th minute through Obika who prodded Murray’s cross in from close range.
Swindon continued to throw the ball forward in search of an equaliser, but the visitors stood strong to hold out for a vital win – much to the frustration of Robins boss Luke Williams.
“We got exactly what we deserved,” Williams said.
“We didn’t batter them in any way.
“They were in front and just sat back and defended their lead.
“We did very little about it.
“If you start a game of football in a coma, don’t be surprised when you come out the coma you are losing.
“Goals change games, but by the time the two goals are against us it is too late.”