Four-goal Vaughan is simply ‘fantastic’

BURY head coach Chris Brass heralded his fourgoal hero James Vaughan as the Shakers ended their 20-match run without a win with a stunning victory over play-off chasing Peterborough.

Vaughan bagged a first-half hat-trick before adding a fourth as Bury ran riot in an extraordinary 45 minutes of football.

Brass said: “I’ve been more than happy with performances in recent weeks against some very good teams but unfortunately we haven’t got the results.

“They stuck to the plan and James had a fantastic 90 minutes in which we all saw the qualities he has.

“He could have had six and possibly seven but at least he’s getting those chances and he’s a big player for us.

“This result stops the run of winless games but you have to keep at it because football is a mad game and I’ve been in it long enough to know you can’t rest on your laurels.”

Peterborough took the lead after just four minutes when Rob Lainton parried a shot from Gwion Edwards straight to Tom Nicholls but from then on it was the Vaughan show as the former Everton striker equalised three minutes later with a stunning first-time finish from the edge of the box before giving the Shakers the lead when he headed in a Jacob Mellis corner.

Vaughan completed his hat-trick on 24 minutes courtesy of Tom Pope who centred to the 28-year-old and three became four after 27 minutes when Vaughan converted a cross from Taylor Moore.

He should have had a fifth when he headed wide before going on to hit the post in a second half which saw Posh also thrice hit the woodwork.

Despite Peterborough’s improvement a goal on the break felt inevitable and it was substitute George Miller who beat Luke McGee to the ball before finding the net from a tight angle.

Peterborough manager Grant McCann added: “This is definitely the toughest game I’ve had on the touchline. I didn’t enjoy it and I felt embarrassed and ashamed watching the team play and I hold my hands up because Bury were better than us on the day.

“If our boys start fearing that our fullbacks are too high then we are in trouble because we might as well play everyone behind the ball but that’s not me and that’s not the football club.

“I want my team to go forward and score goals because that’s the way we play and it’s the philosophy of the club.”