PAUL Barnes has been the first to admit that he hasn't hit the target as often as he should recently.

But he timed his return to goalscoring form to perfection at Glanford Park on Saturday.

The experienced striker scored one and made one as the Shakers grabbed only their second win on their travels this season.

But after a lacklustre first half the victory was just reward for a fine second-half display and a superb boost for caretaker boss Andy Preece.

"I'm delighted for Barney," he said. "In the past two games he has held his hands up and admitted he should have scored about five for us, but today he worked hard and got what he deserved."

"It was a brilliant performance all round and sets us up for the big Boxing Day clash against Burnley."

Although Barnes tried to claim the Shakers' opening goal after 48 minutes it had to go down as an own goal by Scunthorpe's Richard Logan.

An exquisite piece of skill by youngster Martyn Forrest started the move, a deft flick took two midfielders out of the game completely and gave him acres of space to slip a ball to Barnes who raced clear down the right.

His drilled cross to the incoming Ady Littlejohn was cut out by the hapless Logan who could only divert the ball past Lionel Perez in the Iron goal. From then on there was only one team going to win, and Barnes settled matters with a superb left-foot angled drive 20 minutes from time after a first-time ball from Paul Williams sent him clear.

The two-goal cushion was the least the Shakers deserved for a dominant second-half display, and the margin could have been doubled if Ady Littlejohn had taken his shooting boots with him to North Lincolnshire.

Twice he squandered gilt-edged chances in scoring positions; the first was a snap-shot that he fired wide with only Perez to beat and for the second, again clean through, he hesitated allowing Scunthorpe skipper Chris Hope to make a last-gasp tackle to save the day.

Seconds earlier it had been the turn of Chris Swailes to make a life-saving challenge when substitute Gary Sheldon found himself in on goal but that chance apart there was little to concern Paddy Kenny in the Bury goal as the resolute Shakers back line coped with the best the home side could muster.

Most pleasing of all was the performance of the two youngsters drafted into the side, midfielder Forrest and right-back Matt Barrass.

Both gave very impressive performances and Barrass frustrated Iron danger man Lee Hodges to such an extent that the former West Ham ace was booked for a clash with the youngster in the second half.

"In the past few games I've had a good few chances and it's been frustrating but as you get older you learn to keep going. You can't afford to hide" said Barnes.

"It was brilliant to grab one in front of our fans because I haven't scored as many as I'd have liked since I arrived so it was good to run to our supporters and share a little bit with them."

"There's a great spirit in the side, but we've had that all season and it's not changed just because Neil Warnock has gone.

"We just haven't performed as well as we should this season and have let ourselves down a little, me included!" he added.

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