MAYNARD LANDS A SUCKER PUNCH
RYAN Lowe compared goal-scoring hero Nicky Maynard to boxer Anthony Joshua as a dramatic late winner kept Bury dreaming of promotion.
The 32-year-old pounced when it mattered most to head home from three yards deep into injury-time to keep Lowe’s charges firmly in the hunt and break Stevenage’s hearts at the same time.
It sent them 13 games unbeaten despite not playing at their best – with the Shakers proving a few naysayers wrong in the process, according to the boss.
“There’s nothing like a last-minute winner and I wanted to run on at the end with the lads, but I managed to keep my emotions in check, just,” said Lowe.
“The resilience and character shown by our lads was superb, and they know what is expected of them – we showed we can deal with difficult circumstances, like the elements and a physical opposition, and I think that will quieten a few who have been questioning whether we are a side for all conditions.
“We weren’t at our best, but all it takes is one chance and if there’s one man you want it to fall to, it’s Nicky.
“To score 19 at this stage of the season shows he’s still very much a force.
“I thought for a second he wouldn’t have the neck muscles to arch back, but he showed Joshua hasn’t got a patch on him, and the boys are delighted for him.”
With leaders Lincoln winning on Friday, the onus was on Bury to make the early running and after Moses Makasi was unable to convert a Joel Byrom cross for the hosts, Maynard should have opened the scoring, but failed to control from Caolan Lavery.
Makasi had two further chances before the break, the latter seeing him denied by visiting stopper Joe Murphy.
The second half was more scrappy, though Stevenage came closest to the breakthrough when Johnny Hunt and Kurtis Guthrie fashioned chances to break the deadlock.
And the hosts should have gone ahead when Jordan Gibson was provided a glorious opening, with his shot sailing well over the bar, before Maynard snatched in dramatic fashion at the death to close to two points of Lincoln.
“When you don’t take your chances, you’re always in the hands of a mistake, and that’s what’s happened – we were unlucky, yes, but we had the opportunities,” said rueful Stevenage boss Dino Maamria.
“There are two clear chances we’ve had, one in each half, and if either one had gone in that’s game over, job done. Of course we’re frustrated but it’s not like it’s the first time it’s happened this season, and even with the goal, we should have done much better.
“We were a little bit naïve at the end. With the state of the game, we need to get that ball gone – just put your foot through it. But, we’ll learn.”