The famous illuminated lighthouse-style road sign in the splendid nearby town square points in all directions and the direction which Keith McMahon’s side appear to be heading after a fourth away win of this Ryman North campaign is up the table.

Newcomer Tyrus Gordon-Young made the most telling contributions early doors for the visitors with his long throws (a potent force all game) giving the Bury defence cause for concern and then turning poacher himself with a handy angled snap shot from Athletic’s no. 9, on 12 minutes which was the first goal attempt of the evening.

Soon though it was heroics at the other end which was to define the Vickers’ largely rearguard showing, with goalie Niklas Freund called into action with a full stretch save and showing a good safe pair of hands. It was to be an outstanding evening for the young number one, who looks to be a major find for the Kentish side.

He was in truth horribly unfortunate not to keep a clean sheet – though the throwing of bodies into the line of action and some excellent defensive tackling across the back four in front of Freund also needs to be noted in what was as determined a display by the VCD back line as one could hope to see. This after potential disruption from an early change, with Farai Hallam coming on for the injured Marc Gorbell on just the half hour mark.

And the hard work reaped dividends when a sudden burst of attacking play which started with a juggling run down the flank by Gregory Akpele saw Gordon-Young’s flying header just clear the bar. From the restart the ball was won back by a VCD attack with their tails up and after a mêlée in front of the sticks, Akpele gleefully stabbed the ball home.

In truth, the homesters had been more than a touch lack lustre in the first half and doubtless had this pointed out to them at the break by boss Ben Chenery as they came out all guns blazing as the second stanza kicked off.

Again Freund was called into action with a brilliant diving save; but cruelly as the ball was played out from defence in the ensuing scramble Joe Bruce’s clearance smashed off the encroaching Bury no. 8 and Luke Read will perhaps not score a goal about which was barely aware again like this. Fortunate though it was for Town, it had them level and just two minutes into the half which then threatened to be a long 45 minutes for the visitors.

Not so though, because heads most certainly did not go down. A free kick was won just inside the Bury half and Frantz Tchonang’s excellent long ball in found Connor Hogan unmarked on the far post to shoot the Vickers into what was to turn out to be a winning lead in the 53rd. minute. Sadly it was to be the young midfielder’s last contribution, as in scoring he’d hurt himself and couldn’t carry on – Jack Clark taking over.

The home side inevitably took the initiative from this juncture desperate to avoid defeat and keep their championship hopes on track. Their greatest threat came frequently from long throws hurled like Exocets from their number 2 – on more than one occasion the balls hurled into the box seemed portents of impending doom, delivered as they were by the appropriately named Darcy De’ath.

The visitors’ own double ‘D, skipper Derek Duncan was providing inspirational leadership though with a battling display in the centre of midfield – though eventually the former Leyton Orient man incurred the displeasure of ref Mr. Walchester with a yellow card brandished.

That illuminated street sign in Bury’s market square is called the Pillar of Salt and substitute Jack Stevenson (who’d replaced first half goal scorer Akpele) very nearly rubbed the proverbial salt into Bury’s wounds as the 90 minutes elapsed and four minutes added time started – only a handball punished by a yellow card against the homesters’ Tevan Allen stopping what may well have been a decisive break through by the former Averley midfielder.

Despite the lateness of the hour, VCD failed to hold possession from the resultant free kick and instead there was another dangerous situation to defend. A free kick for the now desperate hosts on the right saw Bury’s number one Neil O’Sullivan venture forward and as is often the case when the cross came in it was the keeper who rose highest; but lacking an outfield player’s finesse with his head, the ball went over the bar and the points were VCD’s.

Teams:

Bury Town

Neil O’Sullivan, Darcy De’ath, Tevan Allen, Noel Aitkens, Kyran Clements, Tom Debenham, Remi Garrett, Luke Read, Josh Mayhew (Nick Ingham 81), Bradley Barber, Ryan Jolland (Sam Reed 58)

Unused subs: Joe White, Jed Wigley

VCD Athletic

Niklas Freund, Frantz Tchonang, Ricardo Joseph, Connor Hogan (Jack Clark 55), Joe Bruce, Marc Gorbell (Farai Hallam 30), Becka-Kah Dembele, Derek Duncan, Tyrus Gordon-Young, Gregory Akpele (Jack Stevenson 69), Robbie Rees

Unused subs: Harry Brickwood, Connor Pearce

Goals:

Bury Town 1 (Read 47)
VCD Athletic 2 (Akpele 34; Hogan 53)

Officials:

Referee Callum Walchester.

Assistants: Jordan Sandwell & Bradley Mingay

Attendance: 278