Bury come out on top despite good second-half display
Town: Cameron Gregory, Reiss Corfield, Rhys Davies, James Rowlands (Tyrone Ofori 59), Christos Shelis, Josh Agbozo, Aaron Gilpin, Kian Taylor, Jack Leask, Lifumpa Mwandwe, Ryan Barnett
Subs: Jack Atkinson, Brett Taylor, Tyrone Ofori, Tom Huxley
Bury: Scott Moloney (Ben Thompson 78), Dougie Nyaupenbe, Jack Hammon, Dan Jones, Morgan Sadler, Saul Shotton ©, Joe Adams, Cameron Hill, Robert Harker, Alen Moisin (Femi Seriki 63), Wealth DaSilva
Subs: Ben Thompson, Femi Seriki, Callum Erskine
It was the home side that started strongly with Ryan Barnett and Lifumpa Mwandwe connecting within the opening two minutes as Barnett’s cross was met by the head of Fumpa, but he couldn’t quite direct it and the header went just wide.
However, Town didn’t have to wait long to take the lead as a minute later Fumpa put Shrewsbury in front. It was an incredibly simple ball as Town headed a Bury goal kick over the top of the visitors defence and Mwandwe sprung onto the ball before calmly slotting it past the onrushing Scott Moloney.
However, Town’s lead didn’t last long as the scores were levelled five minutes later. Wealth DaSilva did well down the Bury right and he crossed along the floor for Robert Harker who had far too much time to turn and shoot into the bottom corner from within the 18-yard box.
The game then settled into a pattern of Town trying to get their passing game going, whilst Bury were slightly more direct. Bury caused some problems from set-pieces with Cameron Gregory dropping one delivery in his own six yard box, but luckily the Bury follow-up effort went harmlessly over the bar.
At the other end, Town created a good chance when Aaron Gilpin dribbled past two or three Bury defenders before cutting the ball back for Mwandwe, but Fumpa’s first time shot went a few yards wide of the goal.
Bury then hit the post when a simple through ball found Bury’s goalscorer Robert Harker in behind the Town defence, but his first time shot from just inside the box cannoned off the post with Gregory beaten.
Town were looking to play a high pressing game, similar to that of the first-team, and on one occasion it worked well as Ryan Barnett caught out the Bury defence high up the pitch. His tackle fell the way of Mwandwe who drove at the Bury defence before unleashing a powerful shot, but unfortunately it was too close to the Bury ‘keeper who palmed it away.
Reiss Corfield then almost caught Moloney out as his attempted cross almost dipped in at the far post, but the Bury ‘keeper was able to tip it over the bar and Town couldn’t make the most of the resulting corner.
Town looked most dangerous when they got in down the flanks and both wingers almost combined to good effect prior to half-time as Aaron Gilpin found space down the right after some good work from James Rowlands and his cross found Ryan Barnett at the back-post, but his volleyed effort went wide.
Half-Time: 1-1
Second-Half:
It looked as if Town had been told to run at their opponents at half-time because Ryan Barnett, Aaron Gilpin and James Rowlands on looked to dribble the ball with intent early in the second period. Barnett actually won a free-kick right on the edge of the box, but his shot was straight at the wall.
The visitors then had a spell where they were on top and probably should have taken the lead when the ball was cut back for Robert Harker, but he scuffed his initial effort and his second bite of the cherry was well blocked by James Rowlands.
That was Rowlands’ last action of the afternoon as he was substituted for Tyrone Ofori. Ofori went up front with Mwandwe moving to the left and Barnett going into the number 10 position.
Midway through the second-half Bury took the lead. It came from a corner which was whipped in and Bury centre-back Morgan Sadler met it with a stunning left-footed volley into the bottom corner.
However, Town responded quickly and within two minutes they were level. Tyrone Ofori forced the Bury left-back into a mistake and he then kept his cool to pull the ball back for Ryan Barnett who swept the ball into the bottom corner from 16 yards.
Town were the next side to create a clear cut chance when Fumpa Mwandwe charged down a kick from the Bury ‘keeper. The ball fell the way of Tyrone Ofori who got the ball out of his feet before shooting but Moloney had recovered to get back and make the save.
Town were forced to rue that missed chance as two minutes later the visitors got themselves back in front. Bury won the ball in midfield and Cameron Gregory came a long way out to try and get to a through ball but Bury winger Wealth DaSilva got to the ball first and rounded the ‘keeper before slotting into an open goal.
Town threw men forward in the late on in search of an equaliser, but it wasn’t to be.
Full-Time: 2-3