The match took place at the impressive National Squash Centre, where the lively courts meant for a tough nights work.

Indeed, the ten points conceded to the home side was the biggest total against Bury this season.

The match results tells that Bury won four of the five games, but on another night the result could well have swung against the visitors.

Of the five Bury heroes, only Eddie Black got through his game without a major scare.

Even the great man lost a set to Dave Sheard in the evening's finale before easing to a four set win in his customary style.

That Bury did win the tie was in part due to their excellent levels of fitness, with Stu Garnett, Steve Creegan and Sam Leach taking the spoils from five-setters.

Garnett, the heartbeat of the team, was first up and in a match of rapidly changing fortunes found himself trailing 2-1, despite a majestic second set display.

The skipper is nothing if not gritty, however, and he upped the ante in the final two sets against his flagging opponent.

Creegan had an even more impressive comeback in match 2, after dropping the opening two sets.

Perseverance and determination were the watchwords for Bury's number four, who took the last three sets despite being thoroughly tested in each one. Sam Leech completed the hat-trick of comebacks, matching Garnett's feat of overhauling a 2-1 deficit.

This was another that could have gone against Bury, particularly when Leech was match ball down in set four.

The only black spot on the night was the recurrence of an old injury for Paul Harrison, who was forced to retire having lost the first set to Dave Martin.

Although there is still a few weeks of league action to go, the in form veteran will be looking to restore full fitness in time for the season ending playoffs.

RESULTS

City of Manchester 1 (10pts)

Bury 4 (17pts)

D Sheard 1-3 v E Black (3-9, 9-6, 2-9, 4-9); M Wilson 2-3 v S Garnett (9-4, 0-9, 10-8, 6-9, 0-9); D Martin 3-0 v P Harrison (9-6, 9-0, 9-0); D Thomas 2-3 v S Creegan (9-5, 9-6, 6-9, 8-10, 7-9); I Dar 2-3 v S Leach (4-9, 9-5, 10-8, 8-10, 5-9).