SHAKERS...2 YORK CITY...0: FRIENDS reunited Terry Dunfield and Glenn Whelan may have stolen the show as Bury finally returned to winning ways.

Indeed, Joe O'Neill's contribution to the Shakers badly needed victory almost went unnoticed.

But the young striker's first ever goal for the club ensured the outstanding contributions of midfielders Dunfield and Whelan weren,t wasted.

And his superb diving header from Lee Connell's excellent cross made the final 20 minutes much more bearable for manager Andy Preece and the Gigg Lane faithful.

"It feels brilliant because I've waited quite a while for it," said the happy scorer.

"I've had to be patient and now I've got the goal," added O'Neill whose match clincher justified Preece's decision to bring off disappointed Gareth Seddon.

"It's been a hard couple of months because I've been in and out of the team but hopefully this will kick-start things.

"It was a good cross from the 'Colonel' and I just managed to get across the defender and get my head to the ball," added the 19-year-old striker.

Preece was delighted for the Preston youngster who only briefly has showed his best qualities since arriving from Deepdale.

"You always need that second goal because it only needs one mistake, a breakaway or a bit of bad luck and you're all square," said Preece.

"And Joe's goal put us in the comfort zone because after that we knocked it about and never looked in danger.

"It was a proper striker's goal. You don't see many of those diving headers at the near post scored these days.

"That is a dying art and it was a great goal by Joe. He does get into good areas to score goals and if we put the quality in there he will get them for us."

With Preece and Greg Strong on the bench Bury's team contained only two players over 30 in Lee Duxbury and Colin Woodthorpe.

Indeed the average age of the five man midfield was barely 20.

But their energy and enthusiasm completely swamped the opposition with debutant Whelan, his ex Manchester City pal Dunfield and Paul O'Shaughnessy outstanding.

Whelan has been itching to get first team football and he justified Preece's decision to chase him with a great performance.

Dunfield looked like he'd never been away. And it was a nice gesture from him to give his man of the match champagne to physio Lee Nobes for helping him back to fitness.

"Whenever we've brought new faces in it has always given the team a lift and that's what Glenn did, said Preece.

"It does no harm to keep things fresh and new faces give you another burst of energy.

"Glenn has been at the top of out list for the last three weeks and it's the injuries that have enabled us to bring him in because things are tight with the Football League.

"Glenn and Terry are footballers. We have just missed that. We've got people who work really hard and will pass the ball but it's not their natural games.

"Now we can start looking forward though we are not getting carried away by just one win."

It was understandable the lowest gate of the season at Gigg Lane saw this performance after last weekend's debacle against Doncaster.

But those that did rouse themselves saw a fine display with York simply outclassed. Former Shakers player Liam George managed a couple of shots that drifted wide of the target and Lee Bullock caused a scare with a second half run and eventual shot into the side netting.

But it wasn't until the last minute that Glynn Garner had a save to make-a long range attempt from Bryan Stewart that caused him no alarms.

Bury had to wait until the 37th minute before gaining the lead after a couple of blockbusting efforts by Seddon.

Connell's pass left York appealing in vain for offside and Chris Porter showed great composure and then delivered a clinical finish to get his first goal since August 23.

The Shakers didn't look like surrendering the initiative but it was still a massive relief when O'Neill got on the end of another fine pass by Connell to wrap things up.