Wrexham 0 Bury 1
JON Newby celebrated his permanent move to Bury with a winner deep into injury time to give the Shakers their first ever victory at the Racecourse Ground writes Steve Canavan.
The 22-year-old, who yesterday left Liverpool to sign a three-year contract at Gigg Lane, latched onto a Colin Cramb pass and neatly despatched the ball past the advancing Kevin Dearden to send manager Andy Preece jumping from the dugout in joy.
It was an eventful night for Newby who was earlier hit in the face in a second half incident which led to the dismissal of Wrexham defender Dave Ridler.
And shortly afterwards the striker missed a glorious opportunity to score hitting a tame one-on-one shot into the keeper's arms.
But all that was forgotten with the last gasp winner and a three point haul which virtually ensures the Shakers Second Division safety.
"With no disrespect to the other strikers at the club it shows the value of having a true finisher in the side," said skipper Nick Daws, who confirmed he has turned down a move to QPR to stay at Gigg.
"Jon is a natural goalscorer and to get him permanently is a very big signing. If we can get Cramby as well it makes things a little bit different to all the gloom that surrounded the club before Christmas.
"The place is buzzing again and if we can build on what we've done and get some financial security then this will be a cracking club to be at again. It just shows how things can change in just a matter of weeks."
As for the match itself, the less said the better. Bury were solid in the first half and came closest to scoring when a Newby lob went inches over with Dearden beaten.
But Wrexham - gunning for the play offs - came out looking as if boss Brian Flynn had given them a half time tongue lashing. They dictated the pace without ever troubling a virtually redundant Paddy Kenny in the Bury goal.
The game's turning point arrived with the sending off in the 63rd minute. Newby and Ridler went for a ball on the halfway line and the Wrexham defender caught Newby full in the face with an arm.
It was hard to say if it was intentional but, after an ugly melee involving a gang of players, the referee reached for the red card and Wrexham were up against it.
The Shakers took control but apart from Newby's miss, chances were hard to come by.
And when young left-back Chris Armstrong shot wide from the edge of the box in injury time it seemed as though one point would be the night's reward.
Then, with perfect timing, up stepped Newby to fire his fifth goal in 10 starts.
"We left it late but it doesn't matter when you get them," said a delighted Preece, who also revealed Colin Cramb was likely to stay at Bury on loan until the end of the season.
"I'm delighted to have signed Jon and it will make people sit up and take notice of Bury Football Club. Jon had other offers but he wanted to come and it shows that the club still has ambition even though we're strapped for cash."
BURY: Kenny 7, Billy 7, Armstrong 7, C SWAILES 9, Hill 8, Redmond 7, Reid 7, Daws 7, Forrest 7, Newby 8, Cramb 8. Subs: Littlejohn (for Forrest 77), James (for Hill 83), Barnes, Halford, Jarrett. Att: 3,388
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