Bury pulled themselves off the bottom of the Nationwide First Division with a
stunning success against promotion-chasing Birmingham at St Andrews.
Goals from Tony Rigby, Mark Patterson and Tony Ellis shocked Birmingham, who
needed a win to move into the play-off zone.
But, despite some early domination, they never looked capable of achieving
that and Bury ran out worthy winners.
Before the game Bury had drawn 17 of their previous League matches this
season, but they looked anything but draw specialists against a Birmingham side
who crashed to only their third defeat in 17 League and Cup games.
While Birmingham dominated the early play, with midfielder Bryan Hughes and
Martin Grainger both going close to breaking the deadlock in the opening 10
minutes, it was Bury who had the cutting edge in attack.
Rigby scored his first goal of the season with a superb 32nd minute volley
after flicking the ball up and firing past City keeper Ian Bennett from 25
yards.
While Birmingham almost equalised straight away when Grainger hit the bar from
20 yards, City were struggling to find a way past Bury keeper Dean Kiely.
He produced a spectacular double save on the stroke of half-time to deny
Grainger and Dele Adebola, before saving again from Hughes five minutes after
the break.
His defiance proved to be crucial as Bury increased their advantage after 53
minutes, when Rigby turned provider to set up Patterson, who made no mistake
with a well-placed shot from 25 yards.
Kiely then thwarted Adebola again, before Ellis sealed Bury's win by cutting
in from the left wing in the 75th minute and beating Bennett from the edge of
the area.
Birmingham central defender Michael Johnson, who had scored the first ever
goal of his career against Sheffield United last weekend, struck again in the
89th minute, but it was little consolation.
Teams
Birmingham: Bennett, Bass (Johnson 24), Charlton (Forster 79),
Purse, Ablett, Grainger (Marsden 46), McCarthy, O'Connor,
Adebola, Hughes, Ndlovu.
Goals: Johnson 90.
Bury: Kiely, Rigby, Small, Daws, Lucketti, Butler,
Jemson (Matthews 68), Patterson, Armstrong, Johnrose,
Ellis (Swan 87), Matthews (Dalglish 89).
Booked: Butler.
Goals: Rigby 32, Patterson 53, Ellis 75.
Att: 20,021
Ref: M C Bailey (Impington).
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