BURY AMATEURS 1 NEWMAN COLLEGE 0: BURY hosted Preston-based Newman College in their first encounter of 2005, and all credit to the club members who worked hard to ensure the game went ahead.

The visitors won the toss and chose to play against a strong wind and their first chance arrived after five minutes.

Neat interplay saw Gary Edwards played through and his lofted ball found Tony Subachus, whose looping volley was cleared off the line. His first time shot was then tipped round the post.

Bury had their best opportunity on the half hour mark.

A mix up in the Newman back four allowed Scott Lindsay through on goal, but his shot was straight at the keeper.

Although Bury had almost all of the possession they wasted numerous good opportunities.

The second half started just as the first ended, with Bury having all of the possession.

Pete Hickford on the left broke with pace and played a superb ball across the face of goal.

It evaded all except Pietro Carinci on the far post, but when he could only find the side netting.

Inspiration was required and when manager Mike McMahon brought fresh legs on it soon had the desired effect.

Substitutes Babookar Njie and Tony Jackson combined to play in Gary Edwards down the right, and he drifted in a somewhat hopeful ball to the near post.

It seemed to be heading into the keepers hands until from nowhere, Hickford appeared and finished with a superb diving header to claim the winner.

BURY: Hobson, Carinci, Birchenough, Gibbons, Holdsworth, Stephens, Hickford, Lyndsay, Johnson, Edwards, Subachus.