SHAKERS' season of cup cheer continued as Second Division Tranmere joined Stoke, Bolton and Barnsley on the list of giants slain by the Gigg Laners.

Andy Preece's exciting young prospects are fast becoming the most notable 'banana skin' of the lower leagues and now find themselves just two victories from a high-profile, not to mention money-spinning, trip to Cardiff.

But perhaps even more satisfying than crashing into the Northern Area semi-final of the LDV Vans Trophy was the return to goalscoring form of super skipper Jon Newby.

The popular striker has struggled to find the net since his prolific start to the campaign, with only one goal from 14 matches before last night's ice-cold clash at a near-deserted Gigg Lane.

Only 1,600 die hards turned out to watch Newby encouragingly recapture his eye for goal, by lashing home at the far post from Colin Woodthorpe's 14th minute corner, before returning to his usual creative role by laying on Dave Nugent's second career goal against a Rovers outfit who simply never warmed to the occasion.

True, Newby should have had a hat-trick.

He snatched and missed a glorious chance when hapless Tranmere defender Gareth Allen mis-timed his clearance only to watch Newby scuff his shot embarrassingly wide.

And he drilled another narrowly wide of the upright from inside the box after a crisp counter-attacking exhibition with Nugent.

But manager Andy Preece was nothing but encouraged by the performance of his young skipper, who now stands on nine goals for the season.

"I'm just pleased to see him finally move off eight goals," he said.

"I thought he linked up well with Nugent and they worked very well together for the second goal. Jon's had a rough spell but you could see his performances pick up in the last couple of games and you could tell a goal was just around the corner."

While Newby remains Shakers' main goal threat, Nugent's case for a regular first 11 place was endorsed further by another performance beyond his years against players beyond his experience.

With the ball at his feet he was a constant menace, turning whole lines of tacklers inside out with his intricate ball control, then leaving them for dead with his exhilarating strength and pace.

Without it he was a pest. His hustling and harrying regularly forced the visitors to surrender possession deep in their own half and laid the platform for much of Bury's attacking moves.

And the same could be said for midfield lynchpin Paul O'Shaughnessy, who once again proved his maturity and aptitude for first team football by keeping his cool after receiving an elbow to the face from Micky Mellon.

His composure allowed him to launch Newby's 54th minute raid down the left flank, which resulted in Nugent firing home the squared ball from the penalty spot to seal the latest cup upset at Gigg Lane.

BURY

Glyn Garner...8

Matt Barrass...8

Danny Swailes...7

Nicky Hill...7

Lee Unsworth...7

Colin Woodthorpe...8

Paul O'Shaughnessy...8

Lenny Johnrose...7

Ian Lawson...7

Jon Newby...8

Dave Nugent...9

Substitutes: Whaley (for Newby 69mins) 6, Forrest (for Lawson 81mins) 6. Not used: Preece, George, Evans.

TRANMERE: Achterberg, Allen, Roberts, Mellon, Sharps (M Robinson, 80), Haworth, Barlow, Taylor (Hulme, 56), Nicholson (A Robinson, 66), Connolly, Jones. Subs not used: Hinds, Nixon.

Yellow cards: Connolly (48)

REFEREE: A Bates (Stoke-on-Trent)

Attendance: 1,656