Wycombe Wanderers 2 Bury 1

Last updated : 03 January 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Wycombe extended their lead at the top of League Two to eight points after a 2-1 win over Bury.

The Shakers were rocked by injuries to Glynn Hurst and keeper Wayne Brown in a dire first half which saw Matt Harrold grab his 10th goal of the season.

Angelo Balanta then added a second in the 63rd minute after a mistake by sub keeper Cameron Belford.

And although a late Mike Williamson own goal gave Bury hope, they could not avoid a third defeat from four games which saw them slip out of the play-off places.

Wycombe made three changes with captain David McCracken (injury) and Tommy Doherty (suspension) ruled out, while skipper Paul Scott and Ryan Cresswell came in for the visitors.

Bury's top scorer Andy Bishop was not fit enough to return up front but was needed in just the fourth minute after Hurst hobbled off with a calf injury.

The first threat on goal did not come until the 12th minute when Brown fumbled a deep Craig Woodman free-kick, Williamson turned the ball back in and it clipped the crossbar before being cleared behind.

The two sides endeavoured to play passing football - as they have done all season - but created little, with two wayward long-range shots by Leon Crooks and Wycombe team-mate Matt Phillips the only efforts on goal.

Thankfully the deadlock was broken in the 37th minute as Balanta played in Lewwis Spence in the left channel and his cut-back was side-footed into the roof of the net by Harrold from ten yards.

Bury replied with Richie Baker flashing a 20-yard strike wide before handing Belford just his second league appearance at the interval.

The former Coventry trainee was soon tested by Balanta, who was then fortunate not to be sent off as referee Trevor Kettle missed a blatant kick at Baker.

And the on-loan QPR forward compounded Bury's frustration shortly after as he turned in the rebound after Belford spilled a 20-yard strike by Harrold.

Bury made a positive response and had a strong penalty shout turned down, while a Mike Jones free-kick was deflected against the bar before Andy Morrell's late cross was deflected in.