Flitcroft hails unshakable Bury

David Flitcroft felt Bury put in their best performance since he took charge as they claimed a 1-0 home win against Shrewsbury.

The second-placed Shrews came into the game knowing victory could clinch an immediate return to League One while the fourth-placed Shakers could still catch them. After a tense first half, it looked as though it'd take something special to break the deadlock and Bury right-back Joe Riley provided it, firing in a superb 57th-minute winner. The hosts then stood firm to make it 10 wins from 12 and remain four points off the top three, while Shrewsbury have a seven-point cushion. Flitcroft said: "It was a great team effort, the resilience we showed second half was the best I've seen here as manager. "First half we moved the ball about and they couldn't get near us. We had a tactical game-plan and the lads got their rewards. "We looked a yard sharper. We were fitter, we were dynamic and it was an outstanding performance from everyone in the squad - even those I left out, supporting the group as they have done. "Joe Riley scores goals like that in training and he caught it so sweet. As soon as it left his foot you knew it was in. "I'm delighted for Joe but the squad performance, the commitment they put in was superb. "When we lost 5-0 at Shrewsbury in October it left a scar on us. That was a different team out there and they showed what the real Bury is all about." Danny Mayor went closest for Bury in the first half while James Collins volleyed wide for the visitors. Just after half-time, Bobby Grant forced Bury goalkeeper Nick Pope to tip over but the hosts took the lead as Riley fired his first senior goal into the top corner from 30 yards out. The Shrews replied with Keith Southern and Mark Ellis going close, while Andy Mangan had a goal disallowed. The visitors were unable to stop their six-match winning streak coming to an end, though, and manager Micky Mellon was disappointed about the effort they had chalked off. He said: "Andy Mangan said the ball stayed in when he scored and the way the players reacted they believed it stayed in so it was a big call from the linesman, but it wasn't to be. "We probably weren't at our best in a really tight game. It was an unbelievable strike their boy scored with and we didn't do enough at the other end. "We threw the kitchen sink at it near the end and hoped we'd get a break or something would drop for somebody, but it just didn't happen. "But we're still in a terrific position and we've earned the right to be there. I'd much rather be in our position than anyone else's - apart from Burton. "We've had a chat about it and we'll just have to dust ourselves down and go again."