Bury Town miss out on claiming a Christmas number 1 as Brightlingsea take the win.
Bury Town’s unbeaten run came to an end as Brightlingsea took a deserved win at Ram Meadow. Bury started the game on the front foot and took the lead on 6 minutes when Ollie Canfer sent a ball to the far post and Cemal Ramadan was on hand to find the back of the net. Brightlingsea were unfazed and soon grew into the game. On 17 minutes Bury went on the attack again with Joe White playing a good forward ball which was picked up by Cemal Ramadan out wide and he tried to square the ball across the box for Ollie Canfer but some good cover play from Walker Shabazz-Edwards got the ball clear for the visitors. Then On 22 minutes Brightlingsea were level when Bury gifted the ball away to Teddy Collis and he went on to equalise with a good finish from distance. Brightlingsea almost took the lead a minute later when Fin Adams drove forward and saw his strike come back off the far post. The visitors had another good chance to take the lead on 27 minutes when Fin Adams put a superb ball into the near post and Teddy Collis headed inches wide of the top corner from close range. Bury uncharacteristically offered little in reply on the attack as Brightlingsea took control of the game and the chances kept coming. On 28 minutes Marley Andrews tried a shot from distance for the visitors which went just over the bar. On 40 minutes a corner played into the Bury box by Fin Adams was headed just over the bar by Kenzo Shabazz-Edwards.
Half Time Bury Town 1 Brightlingsea Regent 1
After the break the visitors continued to find the better chances as Bury frequently gave the ball away far too cheaply and Brightlingsea were quick to take advantage of every opportunity given to them. On 55 minutes a Brightlingsea corner played in by Jayden Robinson had Bury struggling to clear until eventually Josh Curry launched the ball up field. On 60 minutes Teddy Collis weaved the ball around inside the Bury box before he put his shot just wide. On 61 minutes Charlie Collis saw an opportunity to strike from just outside the Bury box but the ball when over the bar. Then on 64 minutes Brightlingsea took a deserved lead when Jake Clowsley lobbed the Bury keeper and Oliver Kellett Green got his fingertips to the ball but could not keep it out of the net. Bury had a couple of attacking chances on 71 minutes, first Max Maughn sent a ball into the box but it went behind Cemal Ramadan and the defence cleared. Then Luke Brown lifted the ball over the defence hoping for a runner to take up the chance but no one took up the challenge and the ball went harmlessly through to the keeper. On 76 minutes Oliver Kellett Green made a superb save when Fin Adams hit a powerful strike at goal from inside the box and the keeper stuck out a leg to send the ball away from goal. Bury’s best chance of the half came on 82 minutes when a ball forward had Camal Ramadan and the Keeper chasing the ball, Ramadan got there first but Christian North made himself big enough to stop the shot. Bury had a late rally as the game went into added time but it was too little too late for the home side and Brightlingsea who fought for everything all the way through the game took the win. By their own very high standards this was a poor performance from Bury Town but the Blues still have a game in hand which could see them return to the top of the table.
Full Time: Bury Town 1 Brightlingsea Regent 2
Bury Town Star Man: Ed Upson
Match Rating: 2
Attendance: 617