TRANSFER-listed striker Ashley Grimes scored twice as Bury kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 4-1 win at non-league neighbours Radcliffe Borough.

The 27-year-old former Rochdale forward's brace was bookended by a peach of a strike from James Burke and a fine solo effort from Australian triallist Anthony Laus. Grimes played a more withdrawn role in a three-man midfield that included Burke and Rob Bourne.

It was Burke, signed from Huddersfield as a defender in January, who gave Bury the lead midway through the first half.

And that is how it stayed up to half-time, thanks in part to a smart save from Luke Simpson, who is on trial from Oldham after starting his career at the Shakers Academy.

Grimes, who failed to score for the first team in his debut season at the club after moving from Spotland last summer, bagged a quick-fire double within 10 minutes of the restart.

The first came via a cut-back from triallist Joe Widdowson – a left-back who played under Bury boss David Flitcroft at Rochdale – while the second followed an assist from youth-team striker Anthony Dudley.

Bizarrley, Dudley was then substituted for physio Tom Walsh, before Boro hit the post and then pulled one back through Michael McGinlay - son of former Bury and Bolton Wanderers' striker John McGinlay.

But Bury still had time to add a fourth following a mazy run by ex-Sunderland forward Laus, who dribbled past three Boro defenders before slotting home.

Laus's promising virtuoso display was one of a number of positives to take from the game, despite the lack of first-teamers on display.

Other than Burke and Grimes, Bury’s only other senior representatives were at centre-back, where Nathan Cameron partnered new signing Keil O’Brien - who picked up a knock and was substituted after half-an-hour.

Youth players Scott Burgess and Marcus Poshca, who featured in Bury’s final match of last season at Morecambe, were also included in the squad.