BURY reclaimed their place at the top of League Two thanks to a stunning second-half strike from Kelvin Etuhu and a late Danny Nardiello header.

Etuhu rifled in his first goal for the club on 55 minutes after the ball broke for him on the edge of the box from a Nicky Adams corner.

And substitute Nardiello finally sealed the points with a crisp header, also from a corner, two minutes from time.

Almost 4,500 fans were treated to a tight encounter that Bury dominated in terms of possession and chances, but were never quite able to put to bed.

Tom Soares rattled a powerful shot just over in the first half before Adams forced Tranmere stopper Owen Fon Williams into a low save to keep out his volley.

The game turned after Etuhu’s cracking side-footed strike put Bury in front, with the visitors forced to come out more.

And while Bury looked capable of holding them at bay, substitute Jason Koumas came close to earning the Merseysiders an unlikely point, forcing Shwan Jalal into a smart save low to his right with a snap shot inside the box that was heading for the bottom corner.

Nardiello settled the nerves a minute later with his pinpoint header from a Chris Hussey inswinger,  allowing Bury to honour president Fred Mason with all three points.

Both sets of fans had earlier performed a touching tribute to the former chairman, who died last week aged 73, with a standing ovation before the game and on 73 minutes.

The win also saw Bury return to top spot as they took full advantage of slip-ups from Burton and Wycombe.

BURY: Jalal; Cameron, Mills, McNulty; Jones, Tutte (Hussey 69), Etuhu, Soares; Adams; Lowe (Sedgwick 78), Rose (Nardiello 61).

Subs: Lainton, Thompson, Platt.

TRANMERE: Fon Williams; Holmes, Ihiekwe, Donacien, Davies; Power, Gill (Koumas 73), Bell-Baggie (Richards 81), Laird; Donnelly (Kirby 73), Odejayi.

Subs: Holness, Rowe, Gumbs, Brezovan.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Attendance: 4,481 (866 visiting).