Scunthorpe United 0 Bury 1 - NEW recruit Terry Dunfield watched from the sidelines as Bury made it a profitable couple of days for manager Andy Preece.

Dunfield's decision to swap Maine Road for Gigg Lane is a massive boost to Bury's chances of gaining promotion.

But the former Blues midfielder may have to wait his turn to get back into a team that goes from strength to strength.

Saturday's victory at chilly Glanford Park - however fortuitous - was Bury's fourth in a row. And Dunfield's return could just be the catalyst that brings out the extra yard in Andy Preece's increasingly confident squad.

The little Canadian is due to play a reserve match this week with a view to getting back in the team for Saturday's derby against Rochdale.

"We've got plenty of midfielders so it's getting competitive for places now," says Dunfield, fully recovered from his dislocated shoulder injury.

"My aim is to get back and play in the highest league possible-and hopefully that will be with Bury.

"And there's no reason why we can't get promotion this season."

If Bury can retain the huge chunk of good luck they've currently enjoying, allied to some fine performances, the rest of the division had better watch out.

The Shakers are already ahead of Preece's targets going into the holiday period and with players such as Gareth Seddon and George Clegg to come back, then things are looking good.

This latest win will not go down as one of Bury's best performances but as Preece said: "You're going to get a 10-15 minute spell in every game and you've got to make the most of it. Thankfully, we managed to get the goal. But our first half performance was unacceptable.

"No one did themselves any favours. At least in the second half we showed a bit more desire and hunger. And I always think we are going to score."

Preece was involved in Bury's 72nd minute winner that came totally against the run of play.

The player-boss had certainly been ambitious with some of his goal attempts earlier in the game. And there was probably more shot than cross in a fiercely struck free kick that led to Danny Swailes applying the vital touch for his third goal of the season.

"Chris Billy wanted to take it but I overruled him as the manager," smiled Preece. "And if Danny says I told him where the ball was going then I'm not going to argue."

By that stage Bury could have been out of the game. Ian Kilford, rejected by the Shakers earlier this season smashed a shot against the bar in the first half, missed a great chance in the second and provided the first pass that led to Scunthorpe winning a debatable penalty.

Michael Nelson was unlucky to have been judged to bringing down Steve Torpey but justice was done when Martin Carruthers hit a post with his spot kick.

Match facts:

Scunthorpe (4-4-2):

Evans; Stanton, McCombe, Byrne, Ridley; Sparrow, Graves (O'Connor 77), Kilford, Brough (Hayes 83); Carruthers, Torpey: Subs not used: Calvo-Garcia, Jackson, Collins.

Bury (3-5-2):

Garner 7; Swailes 8, Redmond 9, Nelson 7; Unsworth 7, Billy 7, Johnrose 7 (O'Shaughnessy 75), George 6 (Nugent 55), Stuart 7; Newby 7, Preece 7 (Lawson 87); Subs not used: Forrest, Woodthorpe.

Referee: Phil Joslin

Attendance: 3011.