Wrexham 0 Bury 1

IT'S hard to imagine what star striker Jon Newby can do to elevate him any higher in the affections of Shakers supporters at present.

Not content with putting pen to paper on a deal that saw him transfer his allegiances from Anfield to Gigg Lane this week he smashed a historic Wrexham bogey into the bargain.

No Bury side had ever won an away game against the Robins in thirteen attempts prior to Tuesday night's clash.

And though it's true all things come to an end, no-one could have envisaged the dramatic finale that unfolded at a bitterly cold Racecourse Ground.

There had been ninety three minutes played on referee Paul Walton's watch when the Shakers pushed forward in a last attempt to salvage all three points.

It was looking as though they'd have to settle for just one until a fine ball from Colin Cramb split the Welshmen's defence and sent Newby through to despatch a shot coolly past Kevin Dearden. It was a carbon copy of a similar one-on-one chance in the 66th minute but on that occasion the Wrexham 'keeper managed to block his tame goalbound effort.

Newby's late strike was doubly galling for the Welsh hordes on the terraces and in the stands as he was involved in the incident that saw defender Dave Ridler get his marching orders.

The Bury man was poleaxed by the flailing arm of Ridler who - along with his manager Bryan Flynn - claimed the contact was accidental. Crucially Mr Walton thought otherwise.

The dismissal added a spark to a game in which the Shakers always held the upper hand.

In the first period it was pretty much one way traffic with the only serious threat coming from flavour of the month Lee Trundle who has been in terrific form for the Robins.

But the former Stalybridge, Southport and Rhyl striker got little change out of a defensive trio which included youngster Nicky Hill who was assurance and confidence personified.

It was that man Newby who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he cleverly lobbed Dearden only to watch as the ball fell agonisingly onto the roof of the goal. Prior to that the shivering Shakers fans in the visitors end were shouting long and loud for a penalty when Cramb looked to have been upended in the penalty area by Brian Carey but much to their disgust no spot kick was awarded.

The home side began the second half in far better fettle and for the first time in the game began to ask some questions of the Bury defence.

But for all their possession Paddy Kenny in the Bury goal was hardly troubled at all and was in worse danger of contracting hypothermia than conceding a goal!

Once Wrexham were reduced to ten men Bury boss Andy Preece decided to go for the jugular, introducing the pacey Ady Littlejohn and Lutel James for midfielder Martyn Forrest and Hill.

But after Chris Armstrong shot wide with a low shot two minutes into injury time it looked like the Shakers would have to wait another twelve months at least for that elusive first victory.

But the lethal combination of Cramb and Newby changed all that.

"That just shows you the value of having a true finisher in the side," said Bury skipper Nick Daws.

"And that's no disrespect to the other strikers at the club.

"Jon is a natural goalscorer and it's a real coup for the club to sign him. If we could also sign Cramby as well it would really make people sit up and take notice.

"All of a sudden things are a lot different from the gloom that surrounded the club before Christmas, it shows how, in football, things can change in a matter of weeks.

"The place is really buzzing again and if we could get the financial security of a new owner soon this will be a cracking club to be at again." Daws' decision to turn down a move to QPR last week indicates that he believes that good times could be round the corner again at Gigg.

Winning at Wrexham? - He could be right!

Bury player-manager Andy Preece commented: "The winner was a late one, but it doesn't matter when you get them - Cramby had a last minute chance against Notts County it shows we keep going to the end.

We looked more like the home team in the first half, dominating possession without having too many shots on goal.

In the second half Wrexham came into it more and put us under some pressure but obviously the sending off stopped them in their tracks and we got on top again.

I didn't see the sending off incident even though I was right on top of it. I followed the ball going to the full-back but heard a slap so I can't comment on whether it was intentional or the player put his arm out to hold Jon off, it was a difficult one.

BURY: Kenny, Billy 7, Armstrong 7, Swailes 8, Hill 8, Redmond 7, Reid 7, Daws 8, Forrest 7, Newby 8, Cramb 7. Subs: Littlejohn (for Forrest, 77mins); James (for Hill, 83). Not used: Barnes, Halford, Jarrett.

WREXHAM: Dearden, McGregor, Carey, Ridler, Russell, Ferguson (Edwards 39mins and Blackwood for Edwards 85), Barrett, Gibson, Morrell (Lawrence 63mins), Roche, Trundle. Subs not used: Faulconbridge & Rogers.