RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 0 BURY 1: IF you'd asked Bury boss Andy Preece whether this result was on the cards on Thursday afternoon he'd probably have laughed you out of town writes Phil Thorp

His first team squad had just put in what he described as 'one of the worst training sessions since I arrived at the club' and the likelihood of taking a solitary point off the high-flying Diamonds, would have been long odds indeed.

Preece and assistant boss Graham Barrow were all set to deploy a new and different formation at Nene Park on Saturday but after trying system after system nothing would go right.

In desperation, on Friday morning, it was decided to revert back to a familiar 3-5-2 line-up and after a day of graft on the training pitch it was hoped that everyone knew their jobs.

As if there was ever a doubt!

Saturday was certainly a day for bucking the trend as the Shakers, on their first ever visit to the ambitious little Northamptonshire club, kept their first clean sheet in the league this campaign and in doing so smashed their hosts' impressive unbeaten record.

And no-one who witnessed the match could deny it was three points well deserved.

Gone were the defensive frailties that had blighted recent games while in their place came a fierce determination to deny a home side that rallied in the second half but ought to have been dead and buried at the interval.

In the end a goal from the impressive Chris Billy in first half stoppage time was all that was required but by that time Preece's men should have been three or four goals to the good.

And yet the match could have started in the worst possible way had it not been for Shakers goalkeeper Glyn Garner.

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The young Welsh shot-stopper pulled off one of the best saves you'll see anywhere this season when the Diamonds' giant striker Onandi Lowe powered a third minute header down and seemingly into the net.

But the former Port Vale man reckoned without Garner who - in the style of Gordon Banks from Pele in the 1970 World Cup - somehow managed to get down and turn the effort over the bar.

The incident had a galvanising effect on the Shakers who went on to dominate the first half utilising their numerical advantage in a five man midfield to great effect.

Gareth Seddon, Terry Dunfield, Jon Newby (twice) and even defender Matt Barrass all had glorious opportunities to score as Bury's intelligent and patient probing continually caused Brian Talbot's side problems.

Oddly enough, the all-important goal came from a mistake by Rushden's best man on the day, right back Tarkan Mustafa.

When the former Woking man played a slack pass inside to centre half Andy Tillson, the alert Billy was first to the ball. He then raced into the box and completely bamboozled keeper Billy Turley before firing home.

It was a lead the visitors fully deserved for their efforts but the question remained, would one goal be enough?

In the second half it was a backs to the wall job for the Gigg Lane men but there was never going to be a repetition of the kamikazi defending that's cost numerous points this season.

As the Diamonds continued to launch long, high balls at Lowe, the Shakers back line defended like Trojans, throwing in their bodies and bravely blocking any chances that fell the home side's way.

The closest they came to levelling was in the 51st minute when Lowe beat Garner to yet another lofted ball into the box but Danny Swailes did superbly to hack clear from under the bar.

But as Rushden pushed forward the left gaps at the back that Bury were only too happy to exploit on the counterattack and substitute Dave Nugent almost grabbed his second goal in two matches minutes from the end but his close range effort was brilliantly blocked by Turley.

Not even six minutes of stoppage time added on by Suffolk referee Mike Thorpe could spoil the Shakers day as they, at last, decided to steer clear of the self destruct button.

"After Thursday's woeful training session we decided to go back to what we knew and it showed on the day, I'm delighted with that performance," added Preece.

"Everyone covered for each other and worked hard, there were fourteen heroes out there.

"It is a big win against a good side and we could have had the game sewn up by half time.

"Some of the football we played in the first half was first class and if Gaz Seddon's had scored with the chance he had it would have been a candidate for goal of the season."

Despite staying a lowly 13th in the table the win keeps the Shakers well in touch with the division's pacesetters, two points from the play-offs, four from second place Bournemouth and seven from leaders Hartlepool.

If they can continue to defend like they did on Saturday they will soon be at the heart of the promotion chasers.

BURY FORMGUIDE: Garner 8, Barrass 8, Swailes 8, Nelson 8, Woodthorpe 8,

Stuart 8, Unsworth 7, Billy 9, Dunfield 7 (Preece 83), Seddon (Nugent 74) 7,

Newby 8. Subs not used: Forrest, O'Shaughnessy, Whaley.

ATTENDANCE: 3,925

REFEREE: Mr M. Thorpe (Suffolk)