DAVID Flitcroft was delighted with his side's battling performance, which earned the 1,237 travelling Bury fans bragging rights over local rivals Oldham.

Leon Clarke's 16th goal of the season ended a run of seven straight away defeats in League One for the Shakers, moving them up two places to 13th in the table.

Andrew Tutte came close to doubling the lead in the second period but his shot came back off the crossbar, while Ian Lawlor continued his impressive form in goal since signing on loan from Manchester City, making a number of fine saves to ensure Bury bagged three points on the road for the first time in more than three months.

After the game, Flitcroft described how proud he was of his team for digging in and grinding out the much-needed result.

“(I am) extremely proud of our fantastically battling performance,” he said.

“It was full of grit, determination and desire from each player, who showed how much they want to win for each other.

“It has been difficult on the road in the last month to six weeks.

"Obviously we won the other night (in the FA Cup at Bradford) and I think it gave us a massive boost and a lift.

“The noise we came out to, it was a good local derby.

"Certainly first half we played them in their half and upset Oldham's back four.

"They have conceded quite a lot of goals and I really wanted to get at them and I thought we did first half.

“Leon and (Tom) Pope at times really dominated their two (centre-backs) so I was chuffed with how we started the first half.

“Second half for 20 minutes you have to have a battling character, you have to show resilience and we absolutely took to it so so I'm delighted.

“The fans have not had to travel too far but we got a win on the road, which was quite important to what we are trying to do.”

Flitcroft made one enforced change to the side that knocked Bradford out of the FA Cup on penalties in their third-round replay.

Skipper Nathan Cameron served his one-match suspension after being sent off in that victory. Peter Clarke replaced him in central defence after making a full recovery from the knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks.

His namesake, Leon Clarke, gave Bury a dream start by pouncing on a mistake by James Wilson before slotting the ball past Joel Coleman in the 10th minute.

The Shakers looked surprisingly fresh considering their 120-minute dogfight against the Bantams and could have gone 2-0 up had Coleman not clung on to Leon Clarke's prodded effort following Chris Hussey's corner.

Tutte found himself on the end of some neat build-up play from Tom Soares and Leon Clarke but he flashed his volley wide.

Lawlor – who saved two penalties in the shootout against the Bantams after keeping them out in normal time – was at his brilliant best to ensure a third clean sheet in four starts, tipping Matthew Palmer's 20-yard strike over the bar on the stroke of half time.

That save proved to be just a warm up for the 21-year-old as the Latics came out firing on all cylinders in the second half.

The City loanee first flew to his right to palm Mike Jones' curling free-kick away to safety before holding on to Carl Winchester's hurtling long-range effort two minutes later.

Bury weathered the storm and could have created some breathing space in the 67th minute when Leon Clarke slid the ball to Tutte, unmarked in the penalty area, but he lifted his shot against the top of the bar.

Oldham applied some late pressure but were unable to snatch a share of the spoils as Bury held out for a much-needed three points on the road.

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Match ratings

BURY (4-4-2): Lawlor 9; Soares 8, P Clarke 8, Brown 7, Hussey 7; Tutte 8 (Jones 74, 6), Pugh 7, Etuhu 8, Mayor 7 (O'Sullivan 45, 6); Pope 8 (Rose 79, 6), L Clarke 8. Not used: Mellis, Burgess, Lowe, Miller.

OLDHAM (4-4-2): Coleman; B Wilson (Cassidy 69), J Wilson, Dieng, Lafferty; Kelly, Jones, Winchester, Palmer (Croft 88); Forte, Poleon (Murphy 74).

Not used: Cornell, Edmundson, Vassell, Mills.

Goals: Bury 1 – L Clarke 10.

Yellow cards: Bury – Soares (49), Jones (78).

Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands).

Attendance: 5,537 (1,237visiting).

STAR MAN: Ian Lawlor – For the second time in a week the Manchester City loanee showed his class with a string of fine saves to retain his side's lead. The 21-year-old goalkeeper has kept three clean sheets in his four Bury appearances and he has already become a fans' favourite.