NOT even the mystical powers of Exeter's joint chairman Uri Geller could put off the inevitable as Bury lay their Devon bogey to rest once and for all writes Phil Thorp

The charismatic former Israeli air force man breezed into Gigg Lane encouraging staff to use the powers of their minds to bring a halt to the torrential rain that poured down throughout Lancashire.

He'd have been better off trying to bring it on heavier as only a postponement was going to stop the Shakers from picking up three points on Saturday.

For such a one-sided game to be decided by a single goal, and a late one at that, might raise eyebrows in certain quarters but in recent weeks games like this have ended in tears for Andy Preece's men - especially against

Devonian opposition.

Both Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle have returned down the M5 from Gigg Lane with victories but a very limited Exeter team were never in the hunt.

Possibility

That said, they defended like Trojans and until forgotten man Liam George fired home the winner from 10 yards it wasn't beyond the realms of possibility that they might sneak a draw.

But that wasn't an option according to Preece who said: "I always knew we would score, it was just a case of waiting for the opportunity to come along.

"We had all the possession and some of our play was very good. I never thought the result would go any other way.

"You have to keep believing in what you are doing or else you start to panic."

"I said at half time that we needed to be patient be brave on the ball and a bit more creative in the final third.

"Our fans were getting upset at the way we were playing but we stuck to our game plan and, in the end, they went home happy."

It was one-way traffic for much of the first half with the Grecians restricted to a couple of long distance strikes by man-mountain centre forward Steve Fleck.

The former boxer fired in a brace of 25 yarders that were easy meat for Glyn Garner in the Shakers goal and it was at the other end of the park that most of the action was concentrated, a ten to one corner count in Bury's

favour telling it's own story.

As early as the eighth minute George raced onto a weak back pass by City debutant Adam Virgo and keeper Kevin Miller had to be on his toes to avert the danger.

Meanwhile, Lady Luck continued to stick two fingers up in the direction of Jon Newby whose fortune in front of goal doesn't get any better.

The Shakers leading scorer had the ball in the net after 21 minutes but an offside flag ruled out his strike then minutes later he raced clear onto a long ball out of defence by Steve Redmond but Virgo just managed to get a

foot in to foil the former Liverpool man.

Newby was in the thick of it again three minutes from time when there were big appeals for a Bury penalty.

Once again using his searing pace he left the defence for dead and with only Miller to beat chose to slide the ball inside for Danny Swailes.

The defender's first time effort cannoned off the hand of City defender George Pilkington and was hacked clear.

Referee Mark Clattenburg, ideally placed to see the incident, waved away the frantic appeals and later told Preece he felt the City player had no chance to get out of the way of Swailes' effort.

Preece admitted administering a severe tongue-lashing to his side at the interval and there did seem more quality to the Shakers play in the second period.

Chris Billy and Matt Barrass both brought saves out of Miller in the opening minutes of the half before Newby brought a fantastic stop out of the City custodian with a fine first time effort that was destined for the top

corner.

It was clear that something fresh was needed if the Exeter back line was to be breached and, predictably, Dave Nugent was again called into action from the substitutes bench, with the impressive Redmond sacrificed.

Triumph

The young Scouser was the catalyst for last week's triumph at Carlisle and he had a big hand in George's winner, cutting inside from the right and teeing the former Luton man up perfectly.

"Redders had been getting on the ball well and spreading it about for us so it was a difficult decision for Graham (Barrow) to make," added Preece.

"But we needed to get 'Nugey' on and give him time to make an impact, which he did.

"The lad is a massive talent for us and Graham's decision proved to be the right one."

Uri Geller's face said it all at the final whistle. . . "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!"