Shakers step up survival fight

Bury took a huge step towards League One safety with a thumping 4-1 win over Colchester.

The win is only Bury's second victory in their last 15 games, but their latest triumph gives them breathing space at the bottom of the table. The visitors almost went ahead after 30 seconds when Freddie Sears forced a tremendous save from Jonathan Bond, but Bury took a deserved lead when Efe Sodje's header from Steven Schumacher's free-kick was parried by U's goalkeeper Ben Williams and Mike Grella tapped in from close-range. Bury doubled their lead moments later when Shaun Harrad fired into the roof of the goal after the visitors failed to clear Schumacher's corner. Bury were 3-0 up in the 55th minute when Grella sent Giles Coke through on the goalkeeper and the midfielder coolly steered tha ball beyond Williams. The visitors pulled a goal back minutes later when Tom Eastman rose unchallenged to head past Bond, but there was still time for Bury to fire a fourth when Peter Sweeney picked out David Worrall and he kept his composure to fire the ball into the corner of the net.