ANDY Welsh admitted it was a special day for everyone connected with Bury AFC on Saturday as nearly 1,600 fans crammed in to Neuven Stadium to watch the top-of-the-table win against Holker Old Boys.

The victory, secured thanks to goals from Abs Abasoto and Danny O’Brien, sealed a 2-0 triumph that maintains AFC’s unbeaten league record and keeps them three points clear at the top of NWCL First Division North.

The day began with Welsh being presented with a framed shirt in recognition of being the club’s first ever manager - a gesture that was not lost on the boss.

“The whole day, from start to finish, this is what this club is about for me, for the players,” he said. “To be able to walk out to all those flags, I’m so grateful to be manager of this football club.

“Obviously getting presented with the shirt before the game as well, having a group of players like that as well who will fight so hard for this football club and just the noise the fans created.

He added: “I said they needed to bring it as much as we do. I though as a football club, as a collective, it was a great day all round.”

On Tuesday, night, AFC went out of the Manchester Premier Trophy after losing 3-2to Trafford at the Neuven Stadium in a thrilling quarter final clash.

Adam McWilliam put AFC ahead with a superb 25-yard strike in the ninth minute but the NPL West side were level at the break thanks to a goal from Joe Denman.

In an end-to-end second half, Matty Barlow then put Trafford ahead in the 65th minute. AFC threw everything at Trafford in the closing stages and were rewarded when Liam MacDevitt tapped home a last-minute equaliser.

But deep in to stoppage time, Trafford struck again, a sweeping move down the left ending with Jack Sloan crossing hard and low and Morgan slammed a brilliant shot past Atkinson to seal a dramatic win.

AFC return to league action on Saturday when they make the trip to South Liverpool.