Kaikai brace but Bury hit back and Town had to dig deep
Town: Mark Halstead, Kyle Vassell, Richie Wellens, Shaun Whalley, Sullay Kaikai (Jordan Clark 83), Junior Brown, Jack Grimmer, Abu Ogogo, Andy Mangan (Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro 70), Nat Knight-Percival (c), Dom Smith
Subs: Callum Burton, Mat Sadler, Scott Vernon, Larnell Cole, Elliot Grandin
Bury: Chris Neal, Joe Riley (Danny Pugh 70), Chris Hussey, Andy Tutte, Peter Clarke, Danny Mayor, Craig Jones (John O'Sullivan 46), Ryan Lowe (Danny Rose 75), Tom Soares (c), Cian Bolgar, Nathan Delfouneso
Subs: Jack Ruddy, Scott Burgess, Danny Gardner, Reece Brown
Ref: Mark Haywood
Assistants: Barry Cropp and Stuart England
Fourth Official: Matthew Donohue
Attendance 3248 (548 from Salop)
Micky Mellon makes three changes from the side that drew at home to Scunthorpe United with Junior Brown, Andy Mangan and Richie Wellens coming into the starting line-up while Mat Sadler, Jordan Clark and Larnell Cole dropping to the bench.
Town created a good opening in the early exchanges when Jack Grimmer took a throw into Richie Wellens, he has his back to goal and let the ball run to put himself into the box, he played a neat ball for Vassell to get towards the byline, he cut it back into the danger area but a Bury player was there to clear for a Town corner.
Town were the brighter of the sides going forward and were creating some good chances and openings. This pressure paid off just after the quarter hour mark when Kyle Vassell showed great strength to hold off the challenge of Peter Clarke, the Bury man was holding but the ref played advantage when Vassell pushed play wide to the left to Kaikai, he took a touch to come inside and then curled in a wonderful right footed shot that flew into the top right hand corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
With just over 30 minutes on the clock it was all square, Delfouneso showed good pace to get down the right and get the ball into the Town box but Smith was there to head to safety. The ball was delivered with pace into the box and Soares got away from his marker to put in a decent header that went past Halstead to make it 1-1.
It didn't take Town long to get back in front and two minutes later it was 2-1 to the visitors, good build up play from Town saw the ball moved around quickly to find the opening and the ball came to Kaikai on the edge of the box, he cut inside looking for the shot but then moved it to his left and curled in a lovely finish past Neal to put Town back in front.
Town continued to push and play some nice attacking football and finished the ball with a good chance, a ball over the Bury defence from Wellens saw them flat footed and Kyle Vassell in on goal, he had one defender with him and did well to cut the ball past him and find the space to get his shot in but Neal was quickly off his line to get down and get an important save in for Bury.
Half-time: Town 2 Bury 1
Town were continuing to create and get at the home side, Wellens again showed his composure to thread a lovely ball to put Vassell in behind the Bury defence, he cut back inside and drove in a low shot but Chris Neal was down quickly with a smart stop.
At the other end Bury were looking to get back on level terms and Ryan Lowe got in behind the Town defence and cut the ball back to Mayor who was in space in the Town box, he hit a sweet shot in but Halstead dived across his goal and pulled off a wonderful save to keep the score at 2-1 to Town.
The scores were level again on 65 minutes, it started with Mayor getting in behind the Town defence but Halstead was quickly off his line and down at the feet of Mayor for an important block that went behind for a Bury corner. The ball was delivered into a crowded penalty box and Halstead cleared, the ball came back in and Peter Clarke was there to stab in home from close range to make it 2-2.
Bury were looking dangerous and were taking the game to Town, they had another good chance after the ball was cutback into the Town box to find Soares in space, he fired in a low shot that looked goalbound but Ogogo was there on the line with an important block and Halstead dived in bravely to block and Town then finally cleared their lines.
Town were creating chances and looking dangerous at times and a quick break saw the ball with Kaikai in the centre, he played it to Akpa Akpro who took play to the backpost, he composed himself and then delivered a lovely ball to the backpost for Whalley but Bolger got across and got an important block to put the ball behind for a corner.
It was end to end stuff as full-time was looming, first Town attacked and the ball was with Kaikai, he went down looking for a foul but ref Haywood saw nothing, Bury then countered with the ball ball played to Rose, he nicked the ball past Knight-Percival and the Town captain came across and collided with Rose, free-kick for Bury and a booking for Knight-Percival. Hussey placed the ball and then delivered a really good curling shot but Halstead was equal to it quickly diving across his goal to tip the ball behind for a Town corner.
In the end Town dug in and did the hard defensive work in the second half to keep a good Bury attacking display at bay. It's another point and and Town's unbeaten run keeps going.
Full-time: 2-2