Bury climbed into the automatic promotion places after hanging on for a 2-1 home win over Bradford.

Bury survive Bantams onslaught to grab automatic promotion spot

Bury climbed into the automatic promotion places after hanging on for a 2-1 home win over Bradford. Mike Jones gave the hosts a 17th-minute lead, which was cancelled out six minutes later by an Efe Sodje own goal. Ryan Lowe then put Bury back in front with a 32nd-minute penalty and they held on through a late onslaught. Bradford had started well, with Bury goalkeeper Wayne Brown having to make a fine reflex save to deny Gareth Evans, but the hosts hit back with Lowe denied by new City keeper Matt Glennon. But Lowe then found David Worrall on the right and he squared for Jones to bundle the ball in from 10 yards. The Bantams regrouped and Scott Neilson lofted the ball towards Michael Boulding, whose header back across goal deflected in off Sodje. But Glennon then brought down Bury skipper Stephen Dawson and Lowe side-footed home from the spot. Michael Flynn and Neilson then tested Brown, while Boulding fired just wide after the break. And Zesh Rehman twice went close as the visitors pushed for an equaliser late on but Bury held on.