LOWE HAILS THE SPIRIT OF SHAKERS
YAN LOWE praised his side’s fighting spirit after seeing Bury bounce back from derby defeat at Oldham to claim home success against Tranmere.
RNicky Maynard and substitute Caolan Lavery provided the goals which keeps the Shakers firmly in the promotion picture at the top of League Two.
Rovers certainly played their part, but James Norwood in particular was guilty of missing a number of giltedged opportunities.
Lowe said: “It was really important that we bounced back after last week’s disappointment and, fair play to the lads, they’ve done that in style.
“We rode our luck a little at times in the first half and on another day Norwood would have had two or three goals.
“My players have got the lot. There’s resilience, spirit, fight and passion, and I can’t ask for any more than that.
“There’s some real good characters in the squad this season, and all of the lads have been a pleasure to work with. That’s a great situation to be in for a manager.”
Micky Mellon has seen his Rovers team win only once in their last six games heading into the festive programme, but he remains positive.
Mellon said: “We missed a lot of good chances, and of course we’re disappointed that they weren’t taken.
“In terms of desire and fight, the lads fought really hard, and I can’t be too harsh on them heading into the Boxing Day game.
“It is a very different Christmas to the fans as the staff and all the players have plenty of hard work to do, but we all still very much enjoy it.”
Bury went close early on as defender Chris Stokes nodded inches wide from Nicky Adams’ corner-kick.
The hosts threatened again when Maynard forced Rovers’ keeper Scott Davies into a smart diving save.
Rovers should then have gone ahead when Norwood somehow scooped Jake Caprice’s cross over the top from eight yards.
In first-half stoppage-time, the visitors fluffed a great double chance as Norwood’s initial shot was saved by Joe Murphy, with Jay Harris firing the rebound over the top from 10 yards.
Bury broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, with Maynard expertly heading home a precise out-swinging free-kick from winger Adams.
Norwood ought to have lev- elled in the 64th minute, but he somehow fired over from five yards after meeting a low cross from Connor Jennings. The hosts all-but wrapped up their deserved win in stoppage-time when sub Caolan Lavery drilled home from 20 yards. Rovers sub Ritchie Sutton headed home even deeper into added time, but Bury hung on. BURY: Murphy 7, Aimson 7, Thompson 7, Stokes 7, Adams 8, O’Shea 6, Danns 6, Styles 6, McFadzean 6 (O’Connell 76, 6), Moore 6 (Lavery 62, 6), Maynard 6 (Telford 85). Subs not used: Miller, Dawson, Dagnall, Hudson.
TRANMERE ROVERS: S Davies 6, Caprice 7 (Smith 80), Ellis 6, McNulty 6 (Sutton 42, 7), Monthe 6, Ridehalgh 6, Jennings 7, Harris 6, McCullough 6, Mullin 6 (Stockton 54, 6), Norwood 6. Subs not used: Buxton, Gilmour, George, Bakayogo.