Accrington Stanley 2 Bury 4 (From Bury Times)

Accrington Stanley 2 Bury 4

7:07pm Monday 28th December 2009

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ALAN Knill has revealed how some harsh half-time words inspired his team to their derby day demolition of fellow promotion challengers Accrington Stanley.

A four goal second half blitz left Stanley shellshocked and ensured the Shakers ended the decade on a high – just like they did ten years ago with exactly the same scoreline against another East Lancashire neighbour, Burnley.

Andy Morrell's brace came in the middle of goals from Michael Jones and Ryan Lowe after Stanley had gone into the break a goal ahead through Michael Symes.

Victory will be especially sweet for goalkeeper Wayne Brown, who gifted both of Accrington's strikes on a plate. Luckily, for him, his blushes were spared by some scintillating forward play at the other end.

“To score four in the second half is a really good effort,” said Knill. “It was a fantastic reaction from the players.

“I did say quite a bit at half-time but it was not much different to what I said before the start of the game. We just came out better and stuck to the gameplan by being more aggressive and positive.

“It was not a difficult teamtalk, we were just frustrated. Just like at Dagenham in our last game, we went in with a gameplan and attitude and I didn't get what I wanted.

“I got it in the second half and if we get that at the start of every game we will win more than we lose.”

Bury have been left kicking their heels in recent weeks because of the freezing weather, and they looked ring-rusty in the opening throes as three crosses from the right flashed across goal.

And they gifted Stanley the lead in the 14th minute in the most bizarre of fashions.

Goalkeeper Brown kicked a clearance straight into the back of Bobby Grant, and the rebound fell nicely for Symes to tap home into an unguarded net.

The Bury number one was struggling to regain his composure, and he nearly repeated his gaffe when he sliced a clearance to Jimmy Ryan only to redeem himself with a good save down to his right.

Michael Jones forced two saves from Stanley keeper Dean Bouzanis as the visitors sought to regain a foothold into the contest.

Knill's half-time flea in the ear paid immediate dividends in the second half as his team took the game by the scruff of the neck.

First Stephen Dawson stung the palms of Bouzanis with a shot from the edge of the area before Jones levelled matters with a stunning finish.

The ball broke to the former Tranmere man on the edge of the box, and the winger smashed home his fifth goal of the season.

Just two minutes later, Andy Morrell cracked the ball home from a similar position to totally turn the game on its head and put the large travelling support into fine voice behind the goal.

Bury were dominating and Lowe broke through, only to fire his shot straight at the keeper.

Brown was still having a nightmare, however, and he presented the home side with their equaliser after 69 minutes.

His poor clearance landed at the feet of Symes, whose deflected shot fell nicely for Sean McConville to cooly round the keeper and slot home.

Seven minutes later, Bury were back in front when Morrell forced the ball home after Efe Sodje's towering header from a corner was cleared off the line.

And Lowe put the finishing touches to a memorable fightback when he dusted himself down to fire home a penalty and net his eighth goal of the season.

Bury will be hoping to build on this impressive victory when they visit struggling Grimsby Town on Saturday.

ACCRINGTON: Bouzanis 7, Kempson 7, Proctor 7, Joyce 7 (Kee 6, 65), Grant 7, Edwards 6, Ryan 6, Winnard 7, McConville 7 (Miles 6, 84), Symes 7, Lees 6. Subs not used: Dunbavin, Murphy, Mullin, King, Flynn.

BURY: Brown 4, Buchanan 7, Futcher 7, Sodje 7, Newey 5, Worrall 6 (Racchi 5, 82), Dawson 8, Barry-Murphy 8, Jones 8, Lowe 7, Morrell 8. Subs not used: Scott, Baker, Belford, Thompson, Harrop.

Attendance: 3,138 Referee: David Webb

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