Shakers ease to win

Third-placed Bury maintained their promotion challenge as they beat Notts County 2-0 to record their fifth win in six games.

Bury remain on course for promotion

Third-placed Bury maintained their promotion challenge as they beat Notts County 2-0 to record their fifth win in six games. Top scorer Andy Bishop gave the hosts a 40th-minute lead with his 14th goal of the season before Efe Sodje sealed victory six minutes from time. Bury almost opened the scoring in the 14th minute from a Brian Barry-Murphy corner but Delroy Facey did well to clear Ryan Cresswell's glancing header off the line. Bury winger Elliott Bennett then had a goal harshly disallowed as he challenged Jamie Clapham to head home Mike Jones' left-wing cross, while Andy Morrell had a strong penalty shout turned down after nipping in front of visiting goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington. But the Shakers deservedly broke the deadlock after Jones hit a searching ball towards Bishop, who was up front on his own. His marker Mike Edwards could only nod the ball towards his own goal and Bishop beat Pilkington with a delightful lob from 25 yards. County created their first chance shortly after the restart as Myles Weston crossed from the left and Bury scrambled away Facey's close-range header. The hosts were comfortable for the remainder of the second half, though, and Jones curled a shot narrowly wide before Sodje lashed the ball home from Barry-Murphy's late corner.