Joe Duckworth had a debut to remember for Bury as he scored a fine hattrick in a resounding 4-0 home win against Wythenshawe Town at Gigg Lane, writes James Beedie.

Duckworth was one of two new faces for the Shakers with Harry Wright between the sticks also making his bow, both signings having arrived in the week from Witton Albion.

Gaz Peet returned to the starting lineup following his suspension and there was a surprise inclusion for Anton Smith on the bench. The dual registration player having only made one substitute appearance for Bury so far this season.

The Shakers got off to a dream start taking the lead inside of five minutes. Benito Lowe, keen to make a good impression in his first encounter with his former club fed the ball to Connor Comber.

His cross seemed to be easily claimed by Town keeper Greg Hall but the veteran stopper spilled the effort right to the feet of debutant Duckworth who tapped the ball home to open the scoring.

Duckworth could have grabbed a second soon after but he couldn’t quite make a full connection with a header from a Lowe cross after good work from Charlie Doyle and Comber in the build up.

Bury were by far the more positive side in the opening period with a Comber long range effort just off target and many surging runs from the likes of Andy Scarisbrick, Gaz Peet and Jordan Butterworth nearly making connections with the three pronged attack of Comber, Lowe and Duckworth.

In contrast the closest the visitors came was a half chance for Bruno Severino quickly snuffed out by Wright who dived at the feet of the Wythenshawe Town winger.

Bury would have been pleased with their first half performance but with just one goal scored their lead remained perilous. This was quickly corrected in the second half, Butterworth winning the ball in the visitors half slipped the ball to Duckworth who slotted past Hall to score his and Bury’s second of the day.

The Shakers pressed on with Scarisbrick and Billy Reeves both testing Hall, a Butterworth cross that just evaded Benito Lowe and a cross to Comber that was deflected away for a corner. Eventually the pressure told and Bury had a third.

Andy Scarisbrick combined well with Duckworth and Lowe as the three passed their way through a packed defence before Scarisbrick finished off the move he started with a fine finish into the far corner.

There was nearly a fourth soon after when Thomas Moore was fouled in the box from a corner and the referee Thomas De Prez pointed to the spot. Lowe would do the honours in an effort to get one over his former side. The initial kick was saved by keeper Hall but the linesman ruled he had encroached off his line before the kick was taken. Lowe again attempted the spot kick only to see Hall save it again!

The home faithful didn’t have to wait long for the next goal however. A Comber free kick hit the wall, improvising quickly Comber played the rebound out wide to the open Duckworth. His attempted a cross-cum-shot was lofted over the head of Greg Hall and into the back of the Wythenshawe net. Joe Duckworth completed his hattrick on debut, the first Bury player to do the feat in his first match in 95 years.

Duckworth could even have scored a fourth goal. Played in by the substitute Andy Briggs his goalbound shot was blocked by Emmanuel Omorogbe with what appeared to be his hand but appeals for yet another penalty were waved away.

Even in the later stages of the match with Bury four goals to the good Dave McNabb’s side never stopped searching for the next goal. Their best chance came in the 90th minute as Briggs headed a lofted clearance towards fellow substitute Lewis Gilboy. Greg Hall made a great save to keep the score at 4-0. Had it not been for the away goalkeeper the final score might have been much higher.

Manager Dave McNabb was full of praise for his side.

“It was a really good performance (in the second half) we started really well, turned the screw and put Wythenshawe Town to the sword,” he said.

“We’ve got to be a bit more ruthless and more thoughtful about how we go about games because consistency is key.”

Bury are back in action this evening when they host Squires Gate at Gigg Lane (7.45pm ko)