BURY'S drastic changes paid dividends as they came out on top in their weekend's must-win match.

With opening batsmen in short supply for their league match at home to Denton West, captain Karl Belston was forced into a line-up reshuffle, including promoting himself to the top of the order.

The plan paid off though, as Belston and Akil Greenidge put on 49 for the first wicket, a stand that allowed them to put on 160-8 in their 50 overs.

Bury then defended the target they had set, dismissing the visitors for 145.

"It was a good result," said Belston. "I think with us fighting relegation and Denton West just above us in the table we viewed it as a must-win game.

"We were short of opening batsmen, Chris Reeves has left to go back to Woodhouses, Amar Baig is out with a pulled hamstring and Kevin Tebay is teaching in Vietnam, so I thought I would step up and put myself in the firing line.

"It was a drastic plan but it worked, we got to 49 before Akil was out. Unfortunately we then fell to 96-8 but Neil Tong and Danny Robinson put on 60-odd for the ninth wicket and that made all the difference. They turned it around and, while we were possibly still below a par score it gave us a chance. We felt with harder decks and quicker outfields at this time of the season we needed to put on 200-plus."

Although eminently more defendable than was feared at one stage, the target still appeared to be well within reach of the Denton side, who had wickets and overs in hand as they made their reply.

But when Belston brought 17-year-old Johnny Budd into the attack his three wickets proved pivotal as Denton West subsided to lose their final wicket 15 runs shy of the target.

"It was a great battling effort, as we have had throughout while everyone continues to write us off," said Belston. "They were on about 90 and cruising with plenty of overs left and I was fearing the worst. Then Johnny came in and bowled with good pace. He didn't let the batsmen settle and he took three really good wickets, including their pro who was caught behind by me.

"His contribution was just what we needed."

Bury's weekend took a downward turn the following day when they lost to Monton and Weaste in the LCB Knockout quarter-finals.

Once again they failed to set a big target as they closed on 134-7 and they could not stem the flow of runs as Monton's openers knocked off the runs in a 10-wicket victory.

"We were never in that game," admits Belston. "The toss was perhaps vital, we missed our overs when we batted and in the second innings the ball was like a bar of soap but did not turn up and were simply beaten by the better side. As much as we enjoyed the prestige of the competition it is all about the league though."

Despite Saturday's victory Bury remain in the GMCL Premier Division's relegation zone and, whatever happens over the course of the final seven games Belston insists there will be no throwing in the towel in their bid to stay in the top flight.

"We know where we are but we will be coming out fighting in every match," he added. "We have a great battling spirit and we won't be feeling sorry for ourselves.

"Saturday was a big morale booster and showed we are no 'roll-overs'. We are no one-man team, what we have is 11 good, honest cricketers. We have six or seven genuine bowlers and everyone can hold a bat so we will battle right to the end."