A youthful Bury team easily swept aside Maine Road FC in a 4-2 win at Brantingham Road in Chorlton in the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier Cup.

The competition often gives Bury the opportunity to blood younger players in senior football, and this match was no exception. A good mix of youth teamers and senior players looking to claim a spot in the first eleven made up the Bury line-up, and it was one of the senior players who opened the scoring early.

Having been denied a moment before by the home goalkeeper, Tyler James was not to be denied a second opportunity, finishing from close range with a cross from the right.

The mix of players seemed to combine well; a Bobby Carroll corner found Frazer Gaulton, who headed over. Liam Gould then shot over the bar after good work down the left by Jaylen Webbe, and Pat Johnrose narrowly missed the target with a strike.

At the other end, veteran keeper Russ Saunders was kept busy, Gold Badmus shot over from close range, Jeremiah Pedro flashed an effort across the face of the goal, and former Prestwich Heys man Jack Coop fired over the bar.

The Shakers, however, remained the side most likely to score again. Gerry McCullion tried an overhead kick from a Webbe cross and nearly found the target with it. He had a far easier chance moments later, James playing him through the middle, and McCullion put his shot away coolly into the bottom corner.

The first half remained quite open. Saunders made a great save from Coop, which sparked a quick counter-attack; Webbe crossed to James, but the Bury forward couldn’t keep his effort down. Webbe then tried for goal himself, getting on the end of a super ball by Joe Lynchey, the top corner just a whisker away.

Holding a 2-0 lead at half-time, but looking for more, Bury went on the attack direct from the restart. Tyler James ran straight down the middle and forced a corner. Carroll’s set piece found Johnrose, but his deflected shot went over.

Pat Johnrose, son of legendary former Shaker Len, then got on the scoresheet himself. Chasing down a backpass, he stole the ball off the foot of the home keeper and walked the ball into an empty net to give himself a goal on his senior debut for the Shakers.

Looking irresistible in the second half, the visitors quickly scored their fourth, Tyler James again thumping home an effort played in to him to grab his second of the evening.

With the match all but won, the young Shakers on the bench looked to make an impact as well. Destin Vika hit the post when he went directly for goal from a corner kick, while a great Matty Read run down the right set up Freddie Ackerley to shoot, only to see it fizz over the bar.

As the match entered its closing minutes, Maine Road, who had worked hard and never let their heads drop, scored a goal their efforts likely deserved. Russ Saunders beaten by a shot following a free kick for the home side.

This consolation then became two shortly afterwards. Having already made a fine save from a Jamie Schofield shot, Saunders was powerless when, from the resulting corner, Schofield scrambled home his side’s second goal in stoppage time with the last meaningful touch of the game.

The win, however, was already long secured and another chance for Bury’s young charges to show their mettle will come in the next round.