DWAYNE Mattis has taken less than four months to score more than twice the goals he managed in his entire career at Huddersfield Town.
And you wouldn't rule him out of ending the season as the club's leading marksman, after his latest brace eased the Shakers into round two of the FA Cup.
He is only one behind current front runner David Nugent, but should already be on level terms with his 19-year-old teammate.
Indeed, the midfielder wasted a glorious opportunity to claim the match ball and boost Bury's final total to six, with a bad miss in the later stages.
"I am happy to get two goals but I am disappointed I didn't take that last chance," admitted the 24-year-old.
"I'll probably never get a better chance to score a hat-trick.
"I haven't set myself any targets for this season, just to get as many goals as I can.
"I didn't score too many at Huddersfield but I was playing in a different role.
"With 'Flickers' (Dave Flitcroft) in the holding role I can bomb into the box, which is what the manager wants me to do."
Mattis struck in the seventh and 25th minutes, helping the Shakers to a badly needed cash windfall of £16,000.
The FA Cup has been less than lucrative in recent seasons for the hard-up Shakers, having lost to Northwich, Lincoln, Plymouth and Rochdale at the first hurdle.
And the club's grateful directors will be hoping they don't need to dip into their newly acquired wealth to replace injured skipper Dave Challinor.
The big defender was stretchered off at the start of the second period and undergoes a scan in the next couple of days to determine the full extent of his knee problem.
Challinor's injury was the only black spot on a fine afternoon for Graham Barrow's side, whose win was a triumph for pre-planning and application.
"The gaffer told us we could make it easy for ourselves by getting the first goal," said Mattis, who is proving a shrewd capture by Barrow and coach Kelham O'Hanlon.
"Bury certainly did their homework on us," revealed Motors boss, Owen Brown.
"I think Graham watched every game after the draw was made and it's credit to the professionalism of him and his staff that they prepared so well.
"It is also a compliment to my lads that they took us so seriously."
Brown was also full of praise for Nugent, who spent two years under his charge as a member of Liverpool's Centre of Excellence.
"David always had a lot of talent, but there's always a lot of pressure to come through at a big club," he explained.
"He used to play more wide on the right and while he had lots of pace, there wasn't always an end product. He never used to get his crosses in.
"But he seems to be doing really well here now.
"Who knows, perhaps Bury will get a few quid for him in a couple of years time if they decide to sell."
Nugent was a persistent threat with his speed, setting up Mattis for the opening goal and then repeating the trick from the opposite flank for Chris Porter.
However, it might have been a different story had home debutant Andy Marriott not produced a fine sixth minute save to deny Motors' Peter Cumiskey.
The importance of the save was demonstrated when Bury then went upfield and began to exert their dominance on the tie.
Mattis headed in a third goal and Dave Challinor converted Brian Barry-Murphy's corner for 4-0.
Challinor took no further part in proceedings after his innocuous collision with Darren Wright, and it was a weak clearing header by his replacement, Paul Scott, that allowed Vauxhall back into the game.
The ball fell invitingly for Wayne McDermott, who lashed it into the corner past Marriott from 20 yards.
When substitute Karl O'Donnell punished some more slack defending in the 73rd minute, Bury fans began to sweat.
But almost immediately the Shakers killed off the comeback with Nugent's superb solo goal, taking the ball round two defenders and keeper Tim Dittmer.
There were chances for further goals, particularly when Mattis only had Dittmer to beat.
However, after only managing two goals in their previous four matches, Bury weren't bothered about being too greedy.
"Vauxhall never let their heads go down because sometimes when you are three or four down, teams can fold, said manager Barrow.
"Believe it or not, I was relieved when we got the fifth goal and I was disappointed for Dwayne he didn't get a hat-trick.
"In fact, we could have scored a few more goals, but it was a professional job and we treated them with the utmost respect."
SIMON PYE
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