LDV Vans Trophy Round Two: Bury 1 Barnsley 0

FORGOTTEN man Ian Lawson came out of the shadows to fire the Shakers into the Northern quarter-finals of the LDV Vans Trophy.

Lawson, who has not started a game for the Shakers this season, seized his chance to force himself into manager Andy Preece's future plans with the winning goal just before the half hour mark.

Crisis club Barnsley could be fewer than three weeks away from folding and with the luck they had in front of goal in the first half of this game you would not bet against the shutters coming up at Oakwell.

The Tykes had a number of chances to open the scoring before Lawson capitalised on a weak clearance from goalkeeper Matt Ghent to volley into the top corner.

But they found Shakers custodian Glyn Garner in fine form and his 10th minute stop from Dave Mulligan was a cracker. Bury boss Andy Preece again used the competition to give his 'fringe' players the chance to show what they can do and one or two of them came out smelling of roses.

Lawson, in particular, rolled back the years with the kind of display he regularly put in during his first spell at Gigg Lane. With a bit more luck he might have had a hat-trick as twice in the early stages of the second half he went close to sealing the game for the Shakers.

In midfield, Paul O'Shaughnessy, too gave Preece something to think about rarely wasting possession while Liam George, showed glimpses of the talent that had him marked down as a star of the future in his Luton Town days.

The Shakers made six changes from the team that lost to Torquay at the weekend while Barnsley boss Glyn Hodges made four from the side that defeated Second Division leaders Cardiff.

But after a first half in which both teams looked better going forward than defending, it was the Shakers who looked more accomplished side after the break. With Chris Billy again dominant at the heart of the engine room, Dave Nugent and substitute Simon Whaley both went close to adding to the Shakers tally, although Kevin Betsy kept the defence on their toes, notably with a cross that rebounded into Garners hands off a post.

"I'm delighted at how well we did," said Preece. "It's no mean feat to beat Barnsley at any time, they were a First Division side last season.

"We thoroughly deserved to win the game and it's great for 'Lawse' to get on the scoresheet.

"That's the kind of form he needs to show to get into the first team and he and the other players know that if we are to do well this season it's going to be about how strong the squad is.

"I'm just delighted we bounced back from Saturday's poor performance and it's great to keep involved in cup competitions."

Match stats

HOW they rated

Shakers: Garner 8, Nelson 8, Unsworth 7, Billy 8, Lawson 8 (Swailes, 83), Nugent 7, O'Shaughnessy 7, Hill 7, George 7 (Whaley, 81) Redmond 7, Woodthorpe 7. Subs not used: Connell, Evans and Gunby.

Referee: Mr M. Pike (Barrow)

Attendance: 1,366.