Bury 2 Town 1 - Report and pictures

Shrewsbury Town conceded a 90th minute goal to fall to defeat against Bury in a heated clash that had it all at Gigg Lane.

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Both sides were down to 10 men as James Vaughan and Adam El-Abd were both dismissed.

Danny Mayor struck twice for the hosts, his first a screamer and then a 90th minute winner to break Salop hearts.

Ivan Toney's third Town goal had dragged Mellon's men level in the second-half.

The game will be remembered for the wrong reasons, as a first-half melee continued into half-time with players and staff of both clubs being pulled apart down the tunnel.

Early signs of Bury's defending were worrying for the hosts, shot-stopper Ben Williams had twice fluffed basic clearances, leaving Town looking to carve out opportunities of their own.

One poor bit of defending allowed Town's forwards Toney and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to combine superbly before Louis Dodds was hacked down right on the edge of the Bury penalty area.

Toney lined up the 22-yard effort but went for the curled approach and could not quite get the ball up and over the defensive wall.

Despite Salop's reasonable set-piece opening, the hosts had started the more confident side and looked composed after their bright start to the League One campaign.

Impressive left-back Greg Leigh had slipped in a superb ball for former Wolves starlet Zeli Ismail but the tricky winger was unable to connect when bearing down on goal.

Gary Flitcroft's side looked fluent and comfortable in possession and turned their positional dominance into clear-cut chances

Superb work from Ismail 15 minutes in should have handed the hosts a lead. Ismail, deployed on the right side, turned Matt Sadler this way and that before a lovely low reverse ball feeds Tom Pope and the striker can only lash into the side netting as half of Gigg Lane were celebrating.

Five minutes later and the Shakers were wondering just how it was still goalless.

More terrific play from Ismail on the Bury right leads to his cross finding the unmarked Vaughan but the former Everton marksman could only shoot at Jack Grimmer from 10 yards out.

Salop were living on borrowed time in the first half of the opening period but carved out an opening of their own as Toney worked some room and smashed wide of the near post from 20 yards.

Ismail himself had a go 10 minutes before the break but his crisp low strike was straight into the midriff of Jayson Leutwiler.

Moments later and the game's moment of controversy arrived. Tracking back, Toney hacked down Bury's Jacob Mellis and an unfriendly reaction involving El-Abd and Vaughan led to 22-man handbags as the pair were both booked.

Moments later, Vaughan retaliated by leaving a foot in on the Egyptian defender and was shown his second yellow and marching orders by referee Mark Haywood much to the distaste of Gigg Lane.

The talking point of the afternoon came as both sides were trudging off the field at half-time to a heated reception.

Most players had reached the tunnel before a serious fracas took place out of sight to the pitch. All 21 players and coaching staff were dragged apart with the officials keeping a keen eye on proceedings.

Several Salop players looked deeply angry with what they had seen and it took a good five minutes for players to reach the tunnel.

Both sets of supporters were eager to see if all players returned to the field of play and official Haywood deemed the number of players OK to continue.

The almost unplayable Ismail let rip from 30-yards from a free-kick that looked like arrowing into the bottom corner but shot-stopper Leutwiler was able to get across superbly to palm it away.

But just six minutes into the second period it was all square in terms of personnel as Salop skipper El-Abd was shown his second yellow.

In reality the captain had little option as the lively Mayor directly charged at El-Abd and left the captain defenseless but to barge him over. The home crowd were rather delighted to see the back of Town's 24.

Salop were surviving by the skin of their teeth as home sub Craig Jones put in a deep cross that just cleared Leutwiler's angle.

It looked like it wouldn't be Bury's afternoon as an inviting Mellis cross was met at the back post by Mayor on the hour mark. The wideman's first effort was somehow pawed away by the swiss keeper before a couple of rebounds rolled perilously close to the Shrewsbury goal line.

Gigg Lane was up celebrating but the referee checked with his official before allowing play to continue.

But with 25 minutes remaining the home crowd did have something to celebrate and it came through one of their livewire wingers Mayor.

The former Preston man picked up the ball on the left side, cut inside and unleashed a fabulous strike from 30-yards that curled beyond Leutwiler into the opposite top corner.

The home side were rampant and Salop looked shell-shocked. Mellon had shuffled his pack, first bringing on the returning Shaun Whalley 10 minutes after the break, before then introducing Stoke City loanee Moha to add some more width.

And midway through the second period, shortly after the hosts edged ahead, Town grew in confidence and began to cause Bury problems. A number of set pieces were won and Whalley and Moha began to stretch the Shakers' back line.

Riley, returning to the club he left in the summer, had Town's first shot on goal of means as he tested Williams from distance with a low drive.

Ogogo then sent another warning just over the Bury bar as a corner was not cleared and the Salop unleashed a strong left-footed volley that flew six inches over the top and into the visiting fans.

The renewed optimism was rewarded with 14 minutes remaining. Some fine interplay between Riley and Whalley on the right flank, including a touch of fortune as Gary Deegan's pass did not find its intended target, led to sub Whalley crossing deep into the Bury box.

His inviting ball looped up and up launched Toney, who had endured a frustrating afternoon, to nod beyond Williams into the net from six-yards in front of the Town fans.

His third goal of the season came at a price as he took a whack from the shot-stopper but was soon up celebrating the equaliser.

For all of the cheer and vigour as Salop went looking for an incredible and unlikely winner, Bury looked like stealing it as sub Hallam Hope charged the length of the pitch but couldn't beat Leutwiler in the Town goal.

Hope then fired over Leutwiler's angle as the minutes clocked towards 90.

But Mellon and his brave charges were dealt a tough hand as a couple of unfortunate deflections in their penalty area saw Mayor charge onto the loose ball and lift a cool finish over the goalkeeper to hand the hosts all three points.

Shrewsbury Town (3-5-2):

Leutwiler, Grimmer, El-Abd, McGivern; Riley, Ogogo, Deegan, Sadler (Mangan, 92), Dodds (Moha, 64); Toney, Ebanks-Blake (Whalley, 56)

Unused: Halstead, Lancashire, Sarcevic, Waring

Bury (4-4-2):

Williams, Leigh, Kay, Ismail (Hope, 77), Mayor, Pope, Vaughan, Mellis (Bryan, 90), Soares, Maher (Jones, 55), Barnett.

Unused: Dudley, Burgess, Rachubka, Walker

Referee: Mark Haywood

Attendance: 2,990 (360 Shrewsbury fans)

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