Bury 2 Millwall 1

IT "turned out nice again" for Andy Preece's Shakers on Tuesday evening - perfectly fitting for the 40th anniversary of George Formby's death.

But not even the celluloid antics of the buck-toothed Lancashire comic could hold a candle to the drama witnessed at Gigg Lane.

Formby may have won the Isle of Man TT, romped home on the back of a Derby winner and triumphed in numerous other sporting events but his heroics pale into insignificance compared to Bury FC's latest legend - Jon Newby!

The talismanic Liverpool striker who has yet to play in a losing team since his arrival at the beginning of last month sunk league leaders Millwall with a 90th minute winner that he and his teammates fully deserved.

It was top class entertainment all round and one of the most enthralling matches seen at Gigg for ages.

Millwall, without a win at Gigg Lane since 1967, failed to find the net against nine-man Peterborough United at the New Den on Saturday.

But they made up for that on Tuesday night when Neil Harris - looking suspiciously offside - picked up a neat pass from Lucas Neill to calmly roll the ball under the legs of Paddy Kenny after only four minutes.

The visitors looked well capable of adding to that tally in the early stages as the Shakers struggled to come to terms with the lively Londoners for whom Belgian winger Christophe Kinet was a constant menace.

Midway through the half David Livermore, who was at least five yards offside, raced clear down the left flank and found Harris unmarked at the back post but miraculously the former stockbroker could only divert his close range effort wide of the post. But the confident Shakers are no pushovers now and gradually forced themselves back into the game.

Unlike a few short weeks ago, they look capable of scoring whenever they get forward and the confidence of having two top quality strikers up front is paying dividends.

Newby's striking co-partner Colin Cramb - on loan from Crewe - is a player of superb touch and vision.

And he showed his undoubted class by grabbing the leveller after 34 minutes with a piece of fine skill.

There seemed little danger when Cramb picked up the ball just inside the box with a packed Lions defence in front of him.

But with a dip of the shoulder and some lovely close control he ghosted past a handful of defenders and expertly fired past Willie Gueret.

How Andy Preece must have wished he could have picked up Cramb and Newby a couple of months earlier than he did - although as he says, it wasn't for the want of trying!

The gifted Scotsman almost notched a second with a curling left foot effort that hit the post after Newby, clean through on goal, was foiled by the pitch.

The Shakers kept up the pressure in the second period and Newby went close on numerous occasions. In the 56th minute he went on a mazy run across the edge of the Millwall box before cracking a right foot drive that Gueret did well to block.

And twice in the space of a minute just after the hour mark Gueret again foiled the Liverpool striker when he got sight of goal.

Kenny proved just what a class act he is by pulling off a miraculous save from a Sean Dyche header as the Lions gave a reminder of just why they are top of the pile.

As the match reached it's climax the Shakers' fans roared their favourites on, sensing a famous triumph -- they weren't to be denied.

Lions' boss Mark McGhee sent on striker Richard Saddlier for the last few minutes of the game in a bid to snatch the points.

However, Saddlier was more involved at the opposite end of the pitch and his most telling contribution was blocking a goalbound Newby effort that spun out for a corner.

From the resulting flag kick Paul Reid picked out Chris Swailes and the ball broke kindly for that man Newby who lashed home from six yards.

As Our George would have said "Ooooh, mother!"