Bury 1 - Peterborough United 0

ANYONE interested in making a quick buck in the final two weeks of the soccer season could do worse than invest in a few thousand bottles of nerve tonic and set up a stall on Bury Market.

For the Shakers supporters' restless dreams of a return to the second tier of the nation's football pyramid after 28 long years, not to mention the right to entertain Mr Kinkladze and Co, came a massive step closer to reality after Saturday's victory over Peterborough.

And if the thought of Division One football next season gives some the collywobbles then they'd be well advised to stock up the medical cabinet as a seventh consecutive home win sent Bury five points clear at the top of the Second Division table with only three games to play.

It may not be over till the fat lady sings but the sound of her clearing her throat is certainly reverberating around town!

As expected British football's 'Hosts with the Most' had to fight every inch of the way against relegation-haunted Posh who are desperate not to depart the division in the opposite direction, and it was difficult to argue with the after match verdict of goalscorer David Johnson who said it was "the hardest game of the season!"

But toughing it out hasn't been a problem for Stan Ternent's men thoughout this marvellous campaign and while rivals Stockport and Brentford were falling on their swords his irrepressible charges got on with the job they do best - sending the opposition back down Gigg Lane empty-handed!

In terms of goal chances the plucky visitors gave as good as they got in the first half and it was hard to believe that two divisions may separate the clubs come next season.

However, Bury could have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute when Tony Battersby raced onto a Johnson flick, wrestled off the challenge of Mike Bodley only to drill his low drive narrowly wide.

Five minutes later Ian Hughes, who admirably filled the centre-back role vacated by injury victim Andy Woodward, was forced to hack a Roger Willis effort off the line after Dean Kiely failed to collect a speculative ball into the box.

Throughout the game referee Mr Wiley's interpretation of the advantage rule was bizarre to say the least and on more than one occasion he allowed play to continue when prudent not to.

That said, there was no faulting him in the 28th minute when, after a couple of robust challenges on Johnson, he allowed the former Manchester United youngster to race deep into the Posh half and deliver a dangerous cross that Battersby narrowly failed to connect with.

Derek Payne's subsequent clearance had a hint of handball about it but the official was unimpressed by the half-hearted penalty claims.

That proved to be Bury's final goalmouth action of the first 45 minutes although Kiely had to be alert late in the half when Ricky Otto and former Shakers loan-signing Miguel de Souza both tested him with powerful drives.

The half-time break worked wonders for the home side and they started the second period in determined mood. Gordon Armstrong almost broke the deadlock when he rose highest to a Dean West cross but the former Sunderland man's header cannoned off the crossbar with United's Dutch 'keeper well beaten.

Two minutes later skipper Chris Lucketti thought he'd doubled his goal tally for the season when he lashed home a loose ball following a corner kick but the referee adjudged Lenny Johnrose's challenge of Griemink to be an illegal one.

But anguish turned to ecstacy when Johnson, substitute against Crewe in the previous match, chose the perfect way to celebrate his return to the side with the winning goal after an hour.

Under pressure from Lucketti and Paul Butler, Griemink failed to get a convincing punch on Nick Daws' right wing cross and when the ball broke to the left foot of Johnson he gleefully rifled home his ninth of the season through a crowd of players.

Two minutes later the goalscorer was the victim of a tactical switch when he was replaced by Andy Scott.

The on-loan Sheffield United man took up the left-back position freeing Armstrong to bolster the midfield - it worked a treat!

The Shakers unerring ability to shut up shop again paid off and, despite the ubiquitous goalmouth scramble in front of Kiely just before the whistle, Peterborough went home with the dubious honour of being the fourteenth team this season not to score at Gigg.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.