MATTY Foulds and Hallam Hope were singled out for praise by Bury manager David Flitcroft after his side secured a place in the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy despite a late scare at Accrington.

Hope scored his first goal in 16 months to put the Shakers on their way two minutes after the break and they looked to be sauntering to victory when Andrew Tutte added a second 20 minutes from time.

An 83rd minute strike by Accrington substitute Gerardo Bruna set up a tense finish but Flitcroft’s side edged home after Stanley’s Sean McConville missed a stoppage-time penalty.

A late leveller would certainly have been tough on 17-year-old Bury centre-back Foulds, whose calm, measured display on his first senior start for the club drew fulsome praise from his manager.

“It was disappointing not to keep a clean sheet but the big positive to draw out of the game was Matty Foulds’ full debut – I thought he was outstanding,” said Flitcroft.

“The lads gave him a round of applause (in the dressing room). They love him.”

Tutte had the Shakers' best effort of a quiet first half, curling a shot towards the top corner that Stanley stopper Ross Etheridge plucked from the air.

Jacob Mellis also dragged a low shot wide from distance, while Hope fired over.

At the other end, Rob Lainton made a smart save to palm away a McConville free kick.

But the Bury keeper was rescued by Foulds just before the break as the youth defender cleared an improvised Adam Morgan header off the line.

Flitcroft sent on summer signings Reece Brown and Tom Pope after the break and Pope made an immediate impact, laying off the ball for Hope to fire Bury ahead on 47 minutes.

The substitute did well to wrestle the ball from Tom Davies on the edge of the box and his short pass found Hope, who drilled it into the bottom corner to register his first goal since a hat-trick against Portsmouth in April, 2014.

“All strikers need a goal, but he’s got to have more aggression about his performance and he really showed that,” said Flitcroft, who was delighted to see the 488 travelling Bury fans celebrate with Hope.

“It was great that he reconnected with the fans. Away from home our fans are the best in the league by a country mile and they showed that.”

A combination of Joe Riley and Nathan Cameron came close to doubling the Shakers’ advantage on 56 minutes.

Riley’s blistering free kick from 25 yards stung the fingertips of Etheridge and the Bury captain was unable to adjust himself quickly enough to head the rebound into an empty net.

Tutte eventually unlocked the home defence for the second Shakers goal when he chipped a Mellis through-ball over the onrushing Etheridge.

Despite looking comfortable, Bury were forced to endure a nervous finish after Bruna put the ball under the dive of Lainton to pull a goal back on 83 minutes.

Riley then upended McConville in the box, but the Stanley midfielder got off the deck to take the penalty and screwed his effort high and wide, ensuring the Shakers go into the hat for Saturday's draw.

BURY (4-2-3-1): Lainton 6; Riley 6, Cameron 7, Foulds 8, Hussey 6; Pugh 6, Tutte 8; Jones 6, Mellis 7, Mayor 7; Hope 7. Subs: Brown 6 (for Pugh 46), Pope 7 (for Mayor 46), Soares 6 (for Tutte 76).

Not used: Ruddy, Lowe.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY (4-4-2): Etheridge; Wakefield, Davies, Winnard, Pearson; Mingoia, Barry, Conneely, McConville; Kee, Morgan. Subs: Procter (for Conneely 2), Phillips (for Morgan 54), Bruna (for Mingoia 68).

Not used: Mooney, Goulding.

Scorers: Accrington – Bruna 83. Bury – Hope 47, Tutte 70.

Yellow cards – None.

Referee: Tony Harrington.

Attendance: 1,344 (488 visiting).

STAR MAN: Matty Foulds – Andrew Tutte backed up his heavy work rate in midfield with a deft finish to ultimately clinch the tie for Bury but the emergence of Foulds on his first senior start for the club just pipped him to the man-of-the-match award. The 17-year-old made an early mistake that could easily have cost the Shakers after an errant pass across the middle of the park was intercepted, but his head never dropped and he continued to show for the ball. For the rest of the night he never put a foot wrong and was in the right place to bail out keeper Rob Lainton following a fumble at the end of the first half. Manager David Flitcroft had every right to be glowing in his praise for the youngster.