Bury enjoyed a fantastic start to the new year hitting Stalybridge Celtic for six at Bower Fold on New Year’s Day. A Kai Evans hat-trick and goals from Owen Robinson, Leo Graham and debutant Lewis Rawsthorn completed the rout.

There were three changes to the Bury team. Debutant Lewis Rawsthorn would start up front, Bailey Sloane made his first start in defence and Kai Evans returned to the starting eleven on the wing.

The Shakers made the perfect start. Winning an early free kick in a promising position Kai Evans curled an effort around the wall and to the corner of the goal to open the scoring in just the second minute.

The visitors kept the pressure on, Rawsthorn and Robinson forced saves from Celts keeper Charlie Monks while Evans fired into the side netting. The frenetic start was reflected at the other end. Sloane cleared an effort off the line while Mitch Allen saved a great effort by Andy Scarisbrick.

Bebeto Gomes fired an effort from the right that was palmed over by the keeper. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Rawsthorn who fired home for a debut goal.

It got even better for the Shakers. Robinson stealing the ball away from a defender burst through on goal and beat Monks to make it 3-0.

Gomes and Graham showing great interplay on the right set up Robinson to shoot but Monks saved well. Bury didn’t have to wait long to score though, Gomes again sending a cross in that was controlled by Evans at the far post before rifling into the roof of the net. The Shakers fourth goal in under half an hour.

Both sides pushed for the next goal, the hosts had another chance headed off the line, Rawsthorn played through nearly rounded the keeper and Evans, in search of a first half hat-trick went for goal from the halfway line that just drifted wide of the goal.

The second half started slower by comparison though Stalybridge having made two attacking changes needed to find a goal quickly for any hope of a comeback. For much of the early exchanges they were denied before Ellis Horan hit the post. In the scramble to get the ball away Stalybridge were awarded a penalty. Max Leonard saw his spot kick saved by Allen but reacted first to score on the rebound.

As the Celts tested the Bury defence Tim Lees turned to his bench adding Louis Isherwood and DJ Pedro. The duo immediately went to work. Isherwood winning the ball in defence pushed forward and sent a great pass onto Pedro who was felled in the box by former Bury man Aaron Chalmers. The referee pointed to the spot and the Shakers had a penalty of their own. Kai Evans dispatched the effort to complete his personal treble.

5-1 soon turned to 6-1. Another burst into the box by Pedro and again the Bury striker was hacked down, this time by the keeper and Leo Graham sent Monks the wrong way for the Shakers’ last goal.

Staybridge would at least have the final say in the match. The otherwise excellent Luke Tabone lost the ball in his own box and Ellis Horan grabbed another consolation goal.

The win, Bury’s fourth in four, firmly boosts their promotion hopes. A year ago Bury were beaten on New Year’s Day by four goals and went unbeaten the rest of the way. The four goal victory at Bower Fold, as well avenging previous defeats to Stalybridge, might well usher in another long winning run. Especially if the Shakers continue to play as they did.