Fleetwood Town 2-0 Bury
Fleetwood Town started 2016 in positive fashion as two second half goals beat Bury at Highbury this afternoon.Ash Hunter gave the Cod Army the lead just after the interval as he latched on to a ball over the top and slotted coolly past Daniel Bachmann.
Bobby Grant made it two with a quarter of an hour remaining, as he connected with Antoni Sarcevic’s low cross from the left.
Steven Pressley made four changes to his team for the visit of David Flitcroft’s side, with Dionatan Teixeira, Jamie Proctor, Grant and Hunter all starting.
And it was Grant who had the game’s first chance, when his strike from distance deflected just wide of Bachmann’s far post.
The winger was a live wire during the early exchanges, and his cross minutes later found Proctor in the box but the visitors’ backline defended well to deny him.
Chances continued to come the home side’s way, and Teixeira should have put his team ahead on 10 minutes but his effort from inside the six yard box was cleared off the line.
For the Shakers, Scott Burgess went close with a strike which went just over, while Leon Clarke skewed an effort wide of the post from a good position.
Town were struggling to convert their chances during the opening stages, and Proctor was the next to be guilty of squandering an opportunity inside the box.
Captain Nathan Pond later saw a header at the back post skim the top of the crossbar as Pressley’s side continued to dominate much of the play.
Clarke was a handful in the air for Flitcroft’s outfit, and forced Chris Maxwell to dive low to his right to keep his header out.
Maxwell was then called into action again to deny Anthony Dudley with a fine low save which he tipped around the post.
Amari’i Bell almost put the Cod Army ahead just before the break when his fierce long range strike fizzed just past the post.
Hunter gave the home side the advantage four minutes after half time as he met a ball over the top and slotted low past Bachmann.
Town went close to doubling their advantage on a couple of occasions after going in front, as Grant’s dangerous corners caused havoc.
Young forward Hunter was keen to add to his tally, and sent a crashing effort over the bar from just outside the area.
Clarke looked to find a way back into the game for the Greater Manchester side, and sent a header at Maxwell in which the Welshman had to do well to keep out.
Hunter and Proctor later combined well, with the former back heeling into the latter’s path, but the ball got caught under his feet and the keeper collected.
Grant doubled the advantage on 75 minutes as his deft touch on Sarcevic’s low cross beat Bachmann in the Shakers goal.
The result was a welcome three points for Pressley’s side, and they now turn their attentions to next Saturday’s JPT area final first leg against Barnsley.