Nathan Cameron scored the only goal to secure Bury’s first league home win of the season against Port Vale.
The Shakers’ captain headed home to lift them up to sixth in the table, as Vale conceded from a corner for the third successive game.
Bury largely dominated the opening exchanges, with the Valiants’ keeper Jak Alnwick forced into making two smart saves.
The second half was one of few chances, although Bury defender Peter Clarke blocked a goalbound effort from Uche Ikpeazu moments before Cameron’s winner.
Coming into the game from two consecutive away victories, Bury were keen to get off the mark at Gigg Lane.
The initial impetus was with the home side as Danny Mayor and Jacob Mellis both had goalbound efforts from outside the area saved in the seventh minute.
The Shakers largely controlled the first half of an end-to-end encounter and had the better chances, including in the 35th minute when Reece Brown headed narrowly wide from a corner, but the sides entered the break level.
After a slow second half, the game burst back into life in the 76th minute as Vale top-scorer Ikpeazu burst into the area, but his shot was blocked by the outstretched leg of Clarke.
Less than two minutes later, Chris Hussey’s delivery from a corner found the rising Cameron, who headed powerfully back across goal, to secure all three points and a first home win of the season as the Shakers moved into the play-off places.
Bury manager David Flitcroft told BBC Radio Manchester he was unsurprised that the eventual winner came from a corner.
“Port Vale came here and put up a strong stance but I had watched them in the week [against Milwall] and they looked quite vulnerable from set pieces.
“So it was something we’d done a little bit of work on. Hussey’s delivery today was absolutely outstanding.
“We’re encouraging him [Cameron] to score more goals, with his size and power and speed, for me he should be on at least three already.
“Chris Hussey’s delivery is the best in this league, and probably the next one up, so we should get more goals from set pieces.”
Image courtesy of Bury Football Club via YouTube, with thanks.
