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Bury 2 Port Vale 0 Gigg Lane welcomed Baichung Bhutia back from injury with open arms this afternoon, and it wasn't long before the Indian superstar, fresh from a two-goal performance in the reserves this week, was back in the thick of the action - knocking the ball into the path of Nick Daws who rifled in the Shakers' second of the game to see off Port Vale and send Bury surging back up the table. After a tough first half in which Bury were somewhat fortunate to take the lead following a calamitous own goal on the line from Vale's Matt Carragher, the Shakers grew in confidence in the second period and ended a heavy spell of pressure with Daws' first of the season. The Valiants' supporters were angry though, and demanded the sacking of manager Brian Horton, the man who guided them to relegation last season. It was a victory which lacked the sparkle of the win over Walsall a fortnight ago but was arguably more important as Bury's excellent start to the season looked in danger of faltering after a dour defeat at Oxford last Saturday, which followed a goaless draw at Gigg Lane against Colchester United. Yet the Shakers responded well to manager Andy Preece's call for an immediate comeback to sustain the momentum gathered so far, with an assured display. It took just over half an hour for the deadlock to be broken in bizarre style; Sam Collins directing a header past Mark Goodlad which Matt Carragher went to clear but could only direct into his own net. Inspired briefly by Vale's misfortune, Bury pushed forward and Darren Bullock was close to netting his fifth of the season with a header which went wide of the post. The Valiants would have been hoping to enter the break level when Chris Swailes headed powerfully back over the head of Patrick Kenny and into the path of Tony Naylor, but the Vale striker lashed the ball horribly into the side netting. Shakers captain Nick Daws made the visitors pay for their error with 19 minutes remaining when he capped a neat interchange between Chris Billy - fully atoning for an indifferent display last week at the Manor Ground - and Adrian Littlejohn on the right with his first goal of the season. Bhutia was involved too when the ball came across from Billy, as he tried to nudge the ball back across goal. It was man of the match Littlejohn however who got the penultimate touch, while Daws did the rest with an emphatic finish into the bottom corner. Bhutia himself should have netted for the second time this season, but couldn't quite steady himself after a blistering run and pass by Littlejohn set him up in the area, while Jason Jarrett, making an unexpected appearance off the bench, fired over late on in search of a memorable debut goal. by Ben Walker
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Bury Football Club
