For the second time in consecutive matches goals from Kai Evans and Mo Touray steered Bury to victory. The 2-1 win at home to Bootle keeps the Shakers top for now but the chasing pack remain close.

There was only one change to the Bury side that had won the week before with Rustam Stepans starting in place of Bebeto Gomes who took a place on the bench. Alongside him new arrival Jordan Lazenbury offered real attacking options for the Shakers.

The opening stages saw both teams make a tentative start testing the opposing defence for weaknesses. A Bootle corner was cleared by Stepans and Evans chased the free ball with the chance to get in on goal. Bucks keeper Tony Thompson however got there first to make the clearance.

Evans did have a chance to score, having seen his first shot blocked after being teed up by Touray the ball fell to Evans again and his curled effort from the edge of the box was tipped over by Thompson at full stretch.

The Shakers had an enforced change when Bailey Sloane pulled up injured on the half hour. Bebeto Gomes was brought on and Jonno made the switch to a back four in defence.

Playoff chasing Bootle came close to scoring themselves, Ryan Beigan breaking through the Shakers backline and forcing a save from Mitch Allen.

With halftime approaching Evans finally beat Thompson to break the deadlock. His shot from outside the box sailing over Thompson and landing in the far corner of the net.

It wasn’t long into the second half before Bury had their second. Encamped in the Bucks box Rustam Stepans, Owen Robinson and James Neild all had the ball but couldn’t find a way past the sea of yellow Bootle shirts. Stepans managed to feed the ball to Touray who at last found a gap and with a well placed shot beat Thompson to double the host’s advantage.

The two goal lead was not to last however. Halftime substitute Ben Hodkinson caught the Bury defence napping reacting first to a simple ball over the top. Mitch Allen left in no man’s land was helpless to see the ball sail over his head and into the goal to give the away side a lifeline.

Despite being pulled back the Shakers continued to look the side most likely to score. Robinson went for a wild overhead kick and it only just went wide. Touray with a great turn unlocked the Bottle defence but his shot rattled the crossbar. Substitute Luca Navarro had the ball in the back of the net from a header but the offside flag had already been raised.

With the Bury forwards creating chances and ably supported by Stepans, Neild and new man Lazenbury immediately looking at home in this Shakers attack it seemed a third goal was in the works. However the visiting defence held up and the scoreline remained narrow.

In fact Bootle so nearly equalised. After giving away a poor corner Bury could have paid for it with a goalbound header from the set piece. Allen however was there to make a brilliant reflex save to maintain the lead.

The Shakers saw the match out to claim all three points and stay top. How long they will remain there depends upon results elsewhere. All the top five sides won while second place Avro play their final game in hand in the week and can leapfrog Bury with a win.