TOM Pope scored twice as Bury battered Morecambe and eased to a 4-1 victory in Group C of the Checkatrade Trophy last night.

Zeli Ismail put Bury ahead from the penalty spot but Paul Mullin equalised on the stroke of half-time

Tom Pope headed Bury back into the lead at the start of the second half before Antony Kay nodded in the third.

Two minutes into stoppage time Pope grabbed his second of the game to wrap up the three points.

Bury made an excellent start with Anthony Dudley providing the spark, and winning the spot-kick. The 19-year-old played a one-two with Pope in the box and was tripped by Aaron McGowan.

Ismail stepped up to take the resulting penalty and sent Daniel Nizic the wrong way to give the Shakers a third-minute lead.

Bury kept the ball well and with patient build-up play created another chance for Danny Mayor on the 23rd minute.

The winger picked up the ball down the left before cutting in and shooting across goal, bringing out a fine left-handed stop from Nizic.

The Shrimps struggled to get out of their own half and a brilliant goalline clearance from McGowan prevented Pope turning Kay's header over the line.

But on the stroke of half time the visitors stole an equaliser through a brilliant Mullin strike. The midfielder had acres of space in the middle of the Bury half and he picked out the top left-hand corner with aplomb.

It took only four minutes for David Flitcroft's men to regain their lead after the break. Mayor broke down the left and delivered a pin-point cross for Pope to head the ball down into the bottom corner.

Jacob Mellis and Mayor both shot wide as the Shakers searched for breathing space.

Dudley should have added a third but he missed the ball six yards from goal when set up by Pope on the 69th minute.

Tom Soares spurned a fantastic opportunity when through one-on-one, but from a corner Kay rose the highest to score his first goal for the Shakers.

Ben Williams was forced into a world-class save to turn Lee Molyneux's free-kick around the post late on.

Substitute Chukwuemeka Obi make history when he came off the bench 15 minutes from time. Flitcroft chose to show off his 15-year-old towering defender, who has a number of Premier League clubs circling.

But their was still time for one last hammer blow by Bury when Mellis' defence-splitting pass found Pope who prodded in the fourth to wrap up a good night's work.