Bury Town 3, Grays Athletic 0

INJURY-hit Grays failed to spark at Bury in this challenging clash on Saturday (8 February) against the second-placed Isthmian North side and found themselves under the cosh early on when they conceded a 30th minute penalty and then saw Alex Moss sent off for bringing down Town's Dylan Williams when he was through on goal.

From then on Blues had a mountain to climb and though the ten men got to half time without further damge, the hosts rarely looked like giving anything up and they added two more to end a brave, but fruitless effort from the visitors, who now have just one win from 11 matches and if that run continues they may be looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone. 

Bury were quick out of the blocks and after just three minutes Danny Sambridge was forced into one of many saves after a clever ball inside provided an opening for ace marksman Cemal Ramadam. 

Two minutes later Grays' first chance fell to Prince Sikiru, picking up a loose ball, his shot lacked pace allowing Charlie Beckwith to make a comfortable save.

Bury continued to edge the early possession but were caught out by a break on eight minutes when Luke Hirst burst through through on goal. Under pressure from Beckwith Hirst tried to push the ball round him and tuimbled to the ground but penalty appeals were waved away.

push the ball away, the Grays man tumbled to the ground appealing for a penalty but the official correctly waved away Grays' appeals.

Bury's tactic of stretching the play using their wide men was causing real problems down Blues left flank and Max Maughn was giving Moss real problems. Maughn's pinpoint cross that set up Luke Brown on the six yard line, his powerful header produced the save of the match from Sambridge swooping to his left to turn the ball over.

Gradually though Grays eased themselves into the game, Ale Machedo produced a driving run and shot but he failed to test Beckwith.

On 30 minutes Bury made the breakthrough, a ball into the box caused confusion in the Grays box, Ramadan was pulled back with the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Ramadan converted. 

Although under increasing pressure the Blues defence held firm, but just six minutes later came the incident that made their task even harder. Williams put through on goal and was challenged unfairly by the last defender Moss, a red card being the inevitable outcome.

Down to ten Grays now reorganised frustrating their hosts, but they were indebted to Sambridge once again when he defied danger man Ramadan in a one to one dual.

They did managed to take the scoreline into the break., 

Bury visibly eased off at the start of the second period opting to keep possession and not force the game, this allowed Grays to see more of the ball. 

On 51 minutes Louie Remi created an opening but his shot was high and over,

Manager Darren Manning's post-match views:-

The Ramadan-Sambridge duel continued, the Bury man through on goal was thwarted one again by the keeper's outstretched leg.

At 1-0 Grays were still in the game defending well and looking for the opportunity to break out. From one such break Elliot Sartorius had a chance but nodded tamely into the arms of Beckwith.

Despite competing well, on 67 minutes came the goal that eventually broke Grays' resistance. A slick move out right saw Maughn deliver a ball across the Grays box and hesitation and failure to clear the danger saw the ball recycled finding the unmarked Ramadan manufacturing a clever volley to beat Sambridge.

The goal was a real body blow, the ten men had competed all over the park but the effort was finally taking its toll on tired legs and in the 85th minute a third Bury goal from Maughn, left unmarked in the box sealed the win.

The scoreline seemed a little harsh on a Grays side beset with injuries who had battled for nearly an hour with the one man disadvantage. 

They will need to bounce back quickly as on Tuesday they travel to Concord Rangers.