CREWE 1 BURY 2

FAMILIARITY didn't quite breed contempt but there remained no love lost between the Shakers and a Crewe side that accompanied them up from Division Two last term.

A thinly disguised distaste for one another's style of play was couched in after-match, diplomatic language but it couldn't hide the fact that three meetings in as many weeks between the sides had been one, or two, too many. At least, from Bury's point of view, a thoroughly entertaining trilogy had a happy ending on Tuesday (Sept 2) and the surge of confidence provided by the three points ought to have done the players and fans a power of good.

Bury boss Stan Ternent signalled the Shakers' positive intent by naming a flat back four when many felt that giving away four goals at Wolves last Saturday would have heralded a more cautious approach.

It was another masterstroke, for Bury were able to take the game to Crewe and once knocked out of their elegant, but over-elaborate, stride the home side proved woefully ineffective in the attacking third of the pitch.

Just as they had done in August's 3-2 Coca-Cola Cup triumph at Gresty Road, Bury struck early in the piece. It was a goal that amply illustrated that there is more to Bury's game than biff-bang-wallop. Gordon Armstrong and Peter Swan were the initial architects on the left flank where the latter eventually fed Tony Battersby. He avoided the attentions of Alex's new record signing Marcus Bignott - bought from Kidderminster for £100,000 - and drilled in a low cross that David Johnson swept home from close to the penalty spot.

It was a simple, yet stunning, goal and heralded a spell of unbroken Shakers' pressure.

Johnson had the best chance to double the lead when he burst on to Battersby's 28th minute through ball but Jason Kearton, in the Crewe goal, hurled himself to his right to make the save.

Such was Bury's supremacy that their own last line of defence, Dean Kiely, didn't touch the ball from open play until the 31st minute.

He must have marvelled at some of the tackling as Chris Lucketti, Paul Butler and Ian Hughes all made magnificent blocks to frustrate Crewe.

Hughes, playing because of Dean West's hernia problem, made the best of the lot in the 39th minute when he thrust out his leg just as Dele Adebola was about to pull the trigger from eight yards, it was the start of a topsy-turvy night for Hughes.

The Bury defender was booked in the 44th minute for a foul on Mark Rivers and sixty seconds later pulled back Jamie Moralee to concede the penalty that allowed Alex to draw level at the break.

Shaun Smith despatched the spot kick low to Kiely's right hand.

Lifted by the goal, Crewe had their best spell at the beginning of the second period but marshalled brilliantly by the tireless Andy Gray, Bury held firm without too many scares and went back in front in the 62nd minute.

Armstrong provided the cross from the half way line and Swan jumped highest to power a header beyond Kearton's dive. Crewe can't say they hadn't been warned because, five minutes earlier, Kearton had scooped another Swan header off the line.

With the scent of their first league win of the season in the noses Bury weren't about to surrender the lead for a second time, though Kiely at last had to earn his corn in the 70th minute when he saved bravely at the feet of the flowing Rivers.

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