Bury vs Walsall. Sky Bet League One.
Gigg LaneAttendance4,240.
Sunday 6 August 2017 20:16, UK
Bury missed two penalties but still opened their Sky Bet League One campaign with a 1-0 victory over Walsall.
Despite finishing 19th last term, the Shakers are targeting promotion from the third tier after making 18 summer signings.
Two of them missed from the spot - Jermaine Beckford on three minutes and Chris Maguire with 10 minutes left - but Beckford made amends by heading home the game's only goal in first-half stoppage time.
Bury had an opportunity to take an early lead after Stephen Dawson was tripped by Florent Cuvelier, but Beckford's side-footed effort was turned wide by new Walsall goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.
Moments later Beckford scuffed a close-range effort and Walsall replied with Simeon Jackson's deflected strike clipping the far post.
But Beckford broke the deadlock just before half-time, heading home from Maguire's deflected free-kick.
Maguire and Beckford tested Gillespie in the second half before the former side-footed his spot-kick against the post after Jon Guthrie tripped Bury substitute Zeli Ismail.
The ex-Oxford winger was therefore relieved to see Walsall substitute Maz Kouhyar fire straight at Joe Murphy late on as the hosts held on to secure victory.
