LEYTON ORIENT 1 BURY 2: A THIRD goal in as many games from player-boss Andy Preece helped the Shakers to a fine victory that sent them roaring into the Division Three play off places writes Simon Pye

The evergreen striker, who turned 35 this year, struck just before half time with a long range free kick to give his charges a deserved lead.

And though the home side looked like snatching a point they barely deserved with a leveller in the final ten minutes, on-loan Canadian midfielder Terry Dunfield made sure justice was done by grabbing a winner five minutes from time.

Preece was forced to make one change from the side that picked up a useful point at Lincoln City on Tuesday evening with stomach bug victim Colin Woodthorpe replaced by Martyn Forrest.

Starting

On a miserable, wet day in the capital the Shakers were slow out of the starting blocks and could have been behind early on when a slip by Forrest let in striker Kevin Nugent.

However, the former Cardiff man reckoned without Shakers' keeper Glyn Garner who brought off a fine double save to deny him, and spare his teammates' blushes.

Gradually Bury began to get a grip of the game and the Preece-Jon Newby partnership up front began to pay dividends.

Glenn Morris in the O's goal twice had to be on his game to deny Chris Billy and Preece but the deadlock was broken a minute from the interval when the Bury manager was hacked down on the edge of the box by Harris.

He then dusted himself down and watched with delight as his powerfully struck effort took a deflection off Ciaran Toner and beat Morris.

It was pretty much one way traffic in the second period as the Shakers went in search of the goal that would cement the three points.

The home side lost the lively Jamal Campbell-Ryce, on loan from Charlton Athletic, with a hamstring injury after half time so there was to be no repeat of his wonder goal seen on TV the previous week. The youngster was replaced by Steve Watts.

But it looked like going all horribly wrong for Bury in the 83rd minute when the home side drew level.

A Dunfield free kick was easily collected by Morris who launched the ball down the field, Watts flicked the ball on and substitute Lee Thorpe raced onto the ball and kept his composure to calmly fire past a stranded Garner..

It looked like another case of two points thrown away by the Shakers until Dunfield headed home from close range after Morris had made a hash of saving a Newby effort.