Town 2 - 0 Bury

With Wycombe suffering a surprise home defeat aghainst lowly Torquay, the Mariners leap-frogged the Chairboys into second position, still a point behind leaders Carlisle.  With other scores going the Mariners way, the true value of this hard-fought win showed that the Mariners fighting qualities have seen them move into a very strong second place, with just nine more games to go.

Town were the first onto the attack, and when Dave Challinor had his first kick of the ball he was roundly booed, with the Town fans remember his horror tackle on Martin Pringle.

It was a quiet first five minutes to the game. After 7 minutes, Macca won a free-kick in a dangerous area, but Bury cleared, and then Macca whipped the ball in only to see Toner caught offside by the linesman's flag as he met the ball with his head.

Challinor had his first chance to use his long throw and the ball went out for a corner, and then a second in quick succession, with Town winning possession and breaking quickly before Woodthorpe intercepted Toner.

Goal!: 12:59 Town broke, and then with acres of space at the back Gary Jones met the cross of Curtis Woodhouse with his right foot and gave Schmeichel no chance.

Goal!: 19:36 Jones again! Last week Jonesy scored two in quick succession, and it was a repeat performance as the big man whipped the ball in over his shoulder with Schmeichel unsighted by a crowded box following a corner taken by Curtis Woodhouse. It was the first time that Schmeichel had conceded two goals in a game for Bury.

Schmeichel almost conceded a third on 23 minutes when Futcher nodded a corner goalwards and it required a great save to concede a corner rather than a third for the rampant Mariners.

Bury exposed the Mariners at the back after 25 minutes as the ball was headed across the face of the goal but Mattis headed over.

Bury won a corner, but it was Town who broke away.

Reddy then robbed Challinor to the delight of the home crowd, but couldn't get his shot away, then the Mariners came again and Toner had a long range effort just over the bar.

After the quiet start, the Mariners had taken full control of the match and were good value for their two-goal advantage after the first half-hour.

There was a speculative effort from 35 yards as Town continued to dictate proceedings, and then the Bury defence conspired to make things difficult for themselves when a hair-raising pass from midfield to defence almost saw Cohen capitalise.

One minute of added time was signalled as Bury won a corner, with Town dealing comfortably with the kick.

Half-time: Town 2 - 0 Bury

There were no changes at half time.

Challinor went in with a high arm and his action was met with the anticipated reaction from the Blundell Park crowd.

After 54 minutes Buchanan was replaced by Kennedy for the visitors.

After 57 minutes Russell Slade replaced Ciaran Toner with Andy Parkinson.

Goal!: 59:00: Former Mariner Daly chipped Mildenhall to reduce the arrears for Bury.

The Mariners fans tried to lift their heroes as Bury raised their game to get something from the match.

Challinor's next throw saw the ball head skywards from the brow of Whittle before Town cleared and then Bury won a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Town broke away, and then the Mariners had a long clearance through Futcher which found Reddy, and he raced away unleashing a shot into the side netting.

Town continued the pressure and Cohen tried a snapshot which almost caught out Schmeichel.

Town won another free-kick towards the penalty area but play was halted and the away team won a free-kick this time.

After 72 minutes, scorer Jon Daly was replaced by Marrison for the visitors.

As Town waited to take a throw near the corner flag, Bury made their final substitution on 77 minutes bringing on Speight for Mattis.

The crowd were voicing their anxiety as Bury could have drawn level with a header on 79 minutes, but the effort was placed off target, and Bury continued to pressure the Mariners.

Woodthorpe dispossessed Reddy by pushing the ball out of play, and the Mariners tried to work the throw down the right before the attack broke down, and then Reddy was on the rampage again without an end product.

Bury won another corner with five minutes of normal time, and with the ball flashing across Mildenhall's goal bury won a second corner, which was dealt with successfully.

Town won a free-kick, with the big men going up, but the referee saw an infringement and penalised the Mariners.

Schmeichel himself went up for Bury's next corner, and when Town won a free-kick the Bury keeper had to scuttle back into his goal before Town could work the ball upfield.

Four minutes of added time was signalled to the amazement of the Town fans as there had been virtually no stoppages for injuries.

Fitzgerald took Reddy from behind, with the Bury man just receiving a ticking off from the official.

Full-time: Town 2 - 1 Bury