LEIGH ATHLETIC made the most of their purple patch.

It came in a 15-minute spell towards the end of the first half - and Bury GSOB felt the sting.

Athletic, on a healthy winning run, fired in four goals in their hot spell . . . leaving Bury anxiously looking for a half-time respite.

But Bury began well, looking the more impressive of the teams, although they struggled in the box.

Athletic didn't. And when Jimmy Evans created confusion in the Bury defence Gordon Spowart fired in the opener.

Craig Little hit the second after a super move, Danny Wilson crashed in a header from a corner, then Gordon Walker hit home from the spot.

Bury got a foot in the door when they reacted quickly to a Steve Hilton save to prod home.

But sub Kevin Smith added a fifth before a late Bury consolation ended it at 5-2.

Athletic are now sixth, a point behind Bury but with two games in hand.

On Saturday Athletic are at Burnley GSOB, needing to improve on last season's record.

WEEKEND matches involving Leigh RMI (versus Hyde United) in the Unibond Premier Division, Atherton Colls (Leek GSOB) and Atherton LR (Mossley) in the North West Trains League and Atherton Town (Wythenshawe Ams) in the Manchester League were all postponed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.