Hartlepool United 0 - Bury 1 (on golden goal rule)

THE Bury FC team coach resembled an advert for Colgate as it pulled away from Victoria Park on Tuesday night.

Never have so many smiles been seen on so many faces.

On the face of it a 1-0 win against the Nationwide League's 91st club may not be anything to brag about but you tell Bury boss Andy Preece and his players that.

But when you've gone twelve games without a victory in the league and cup it's blessed relief to get another under your belt no matter who it's against.

On this performance the Shakers fully deserved to progress into the second round of the LDV Vans Trophy and a tough home tie against Notts County.

When Jon Newby forced home Jason Jarrett's left wing cross to seal an extra time golden goal triumph he looked to the skies in thanks.

It seems a lifetime away from his last one which came in the club's only other win on the first day of the campaign at Tranmere Rovers.

And for most of this tie it looked like being another bad day at the office for Bury who, for all their territorial superiority, couldn't turn their dominance into goals.

Both Harpal Singh and Matt Murphy had efforts cleared off the line while Danny Swailes skimmed the bar with a far post header from an inch perfect ball from Singh. The home side - buoyed by a rare victory against York City on Saturday - rarely forced Paddy Kenny into a worthwhile save although had youngster Adam Boyd not fired over the bar with the goal completely at his mercy midway through the second half their could have been a different ending to the story.

It was as clear an opportunity as you'd see anywhere, came completely against the run of play and had the effect of giving the Shakers a wake up call as it was one-way traffic from then on.

Goalless at the final whistle, the clever money was on a penalty shootout until Newby came to the rescue.

Another bright spot for Preece's men was the performance of debutant trialist Jamie Stuart who looked a class act in the left back position.

The former England Under-21 international made a mockery of his lack of match fitness with a fine display, as did defender Michael Nelson and Murphy who enjoyed probably his best game for the Shakers so far.

"We had twelve players out through injury and the lads who played tonight were superb," said Preece.

"We didn't use one substitute and if we'd have played like that at Cambridge on Saturday we'd have gone a result there.

"Some of our forward play was a pleasure to watch and it's just a pity that we couldn't have settled the tie earlier because we got in so many good positions.

"But we stuck at it and I always felt we'd win the game although we left it late."

BURY FORMGUIDE

Paddy Kenny...7

Michael Nelson...7

Danny Swailes...7

Paul Reid...7

Jason Jarrett...7

Harpal Singh...7

Jon Newby...7

Jamie Stuart...8

Martyn Forrest...7

Steve Redmond...7

Matt Murphy...8

Subs not used: Clegg, Syros, O'Shaughnessy, Whiteman and Garner.

ATTENDANCE: 2,190

REFEREE: Mr Graham Laws ( Whitley Bay)