Bury Town were boosted ahead of this match by the arrival of three loan players from Ipswich Town, Zak Bradshaw, Gerrard Buabo and Jesse Nwabueze and they all played their part in an entertaining game and ultimately a late win
Bury shaded it in the first half and had some good opportunities to get on the score sheet early. On 2 minutes a corner played into the box from Carlos Edwards was headed just wide by Zak Bradshaw.
Bury had a series of free kicks in good areas but they all came to nothing as Heybridge stood firm at the back. On 36 minutes Bury had a great opportunity to take the lead with Cemal Ramadan winning the ball out wide and working the ball into the box to find Edwards but his shot from close range was deflected high over the bar.
It took a penalty on 38 minutes to break the deadlock for Bury. It came when a clip of the heals by Jeremy Arthur on Gerrard Buabo sent him sprawling in the box and gave Cemal Ramadan the opener from the spot.
The game had been even to this point and remained so for the rest of the first half. Both sides were defending and attacking well with the game going from end to end as both sides looked solid at the back and dangerous on the attack.
Half Time: Bury Town 1 Heybridge Swifts 0
The second half saw Heybridge start on the front foot but Bury also got forward whenever possible. On 53 minutes Archie McFadden and Dylan Logan worked the ball down the wing for Heybridge and Logan went close but just wide with his effort on goal.
The visitors were dealt a blow on 58 minutes when Matthew Hayden picked up his second yellow card and Heybridge had to continue with ten men.
The sending off seamed to drive Heybridge on further as they increased their attacks. On 69 minutes after a good spell of attacking Heybridge went close again. Adam Topley and Jack Adlington-Pile linking up to give Adlington-Pile a chance but again it went just wide. Heybridge got their reward on 86 minutes with Andrew Fennell getting on the end of a beautiful through ball and pushing on into the box to firing home the equaliser with their first real chance on goal.
Bury were defending well, attacking on the break and never gave up the possibility of a possible winner. The Blues kept attacking and a neat flick from Ramadan was collected by Maughn and his ball fell straight to the feet of Jake Chambers Shaw who took a couple of touches and then smashed the ball back across the ‘keeper and into the roof of the net from close range. Heybridge had been the more attacking side throughout the second half, but it was Bury who went on to grind out the win and take the points.
Full Time: Bury Town 2 Heybridge Swifts 1
Bury Town Star Man : Ryan Horne
Match Rating : 4
Attendance : 388