BURY GSOB...0

OLD BOLTS...1

A DEFLECTED 64th minute goal condemned Bury to a fourth successive defeat and plunged them closer to the foot of the table.

To make matters worse, third-from-bottom Lymm leapfrogged them with an impressive victory against leaders Gregorians.

Bury made several changes from the line-up which crashed to Radcliffe two weeks ago, welcoming back Colin McGinty and Cambridge undergraduate David Mills to the starting eleven.

Shoring up the midfield with Haydock, Holland, Mills and Croft certainly gave the Old Boys a combative edge and they helped nullify an equally strong Bolton midfield, resulting in a first half stalemate.

Yet the second period opened more promisingly as enterprising play brought chances at both ends.

Crompton first saw action with a near post block with his feet and then Holt's header just cleared the bar as Myers flicked on Croft's free-kick.

The Old Boys goalkeeper was again swiftly off his line to produce a brave save at an attackers' feet before the visitors grabbed the vital goal.

Working the ball infield from a right-wing corner, Bolton were allowed too much time for the shooting opportunity which went beyond Crompton into the roof of the net.

Bury still had plenty of time to claw their way back into the game but despite a fair share of possession they failed to exert any sustained pressure on the Bolton goal.

Indeed, other than a snap shot from Myers which stuck between his knees, Bolton keeper Lees failed to make a single save of note in the entire game.

Currently the side is very predictable in it's approach play, rarely penetrating defensive lines and giving few opportunities to the strikers.

The dearth of goals merely confirms this problem and Bury quickly need a change of fortune if they are to keep clear of the relegation zone.

The second team ended their recent run of poor results with a 4-2 local derby win at Walshaw.

Trailing by two goals at half-time Jon Edwards converted a penalty and Dave Thompson, instantly promoted after his four goal exploits for the fourth team, weighed in with a hat-trick.

Stand-in keeper Chris Graham played his part with a penalty save with the score at 3-2.