GATE: Pennington, Hughes, Welsh, Chambers, Bartram, Westwood, Gray, C.Webster, Moore, Cliffe, Boyd
SUBS: Kay, Jungo, Riley, Sandle, Ball

Two weeks since their last match, Squires Gate returned to action last night to host Bury AFC at The Brian Addison Stadium.

It was almost the worst possible start for Gate, as a cross deflected off Josh Westwood onto the post inside the first minute.

Ryan Moore had Gate’s first effort of the game just a few minutes later, as the midfielder pounced on a poor clearance from the Bury goalkeeper but the midfielder’s effort deflected out for a corner that was easily dealt with.

Bury had an effort from distance deflected over for a corner, before Dan Gray was shown a yellow card for a poor foul that halted a promising Bury attack.

Gate were forced into a substitution after just 34 minutes, with Chris Webster picking up an injury. Ryan Riley was the man to replace him.

Appeals for a Bury penalty were waved away by the referee after the winger seemingly dived after getting past Hughes in the Gate box.

Nathan Pennington had to be switched on to tip a header at the back post onto the bar and out for a corner, before Nathan Cliffe wasted a decent chance at the other end, with his cross massively overhit after breaking in behind.

Half Time: Squires Gate 0-0 Bury AFC

Bury AFC started the half on top, and opened the scoring on 48 minutes through Ben Wharton. A low effort was parried away by Pennington in the build up, but the loose ball fell to Wharton who tapped home despite huge Gate appeals for an offside flag.

The visitors went close to a second just a couple of minutes later, but fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Pennington made another good save to tip away a header for a corner, before Theo Ball replaced Dan Gray in Gate’s second substitution of the match.

Cliffe had a half chance on 70 minutes, though his well-struck volley was blocked. Callum Sandle then came off the bench for his home debut following his loan move from Morecambe Academy, replacing Ryan Moore.

Pennington then made another excellent save to keep Bury’s lead at just one, before the visitors spurned another good chance, shooting well over from the edge of the box.

Gate’s biggest chance of the match came on 87 minutes, with Cliffe coming within inches of drawing the game level. Nathan Bartram did brilliantly to drive out from the back and thread an excellent ball in behind for Cliffe, with the forward curling over the goalkeeper but denied by the bar.

It was the closest Gate wound come to an equaliser, with Bury AFC doing well to see out the game despite Gate’s best efforts.

Full Time: Squires Gate 0-1 Bury AFC

A narrow defeat for Evans’ men, who return to action on Boxing Day, hosting Burscough at The Brian Addison Stadium.