TORQUAY UNITED 0 BURY 2 IMPROVING Bury continued their climb up the table with a comfortable win at managerless Torquay last night.

The Shakers, fresh from hitting five at Mansfield on Saturday, produced another professional performance to pile on the agony for their Devon hosts.

Poor Torquay - who parted company with manager Don O'Riordan following their eight-goal humiliation at the hands of Scunthorpe on Saturday - looked like they were still feeling the affects of that drubbing. A first half strike from defender Chris Lucketti and a peach of a goal from ace marksman Phil Stant 20 minutes from time condemned them to their sixth consecutive league defeat.

Bury even had the luxury of being able to miss an 83rd minute penalty, awarded after Stant was tripped by Torquay captain Ian Gore. David Pugh saw the spot kick brilliantly saved by keeper Ashley Bayes.

Nervous Torquay never really tested Gary Kelly during the entire game.

Lucketti's 34th minute opener came as no surprise, Bury always looked the stronger side in the opening half and it seemed only a matter of time before they would open their account.

The Torquay goalkeeper saved his side a minute before Lucketti hit the target. Stant met a long David Johnson throw and saw his looping header tipped over by Bayes. The resulting Tony Rigby corner was only half cleared and when Shaun Reid found Lucketti on the edge of the box the big defender cracked the ball into the corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Torquay raised their game after the break but lacked the imagination to trouble a composed Bury defence in which Lucketti and Trevor Matthewson were outstanding.

The Shakers continued to carve out the better openings. Lucketti nearly grabbed a second with a powerful header before Stant produced the game's magic moment on 68 minutes. The striker latched on to a Nick Daws ball and turned defender Gore inside out before delicately lobbing Bayes from the edge of the box. It was another class finish from Saturday's four-goal hero.

Rigby went close to adding to the score on 71 minutes when his cross shot flashed just past the far post.

Luckless Torquay continued plugging away but the safe hands of Kelly gobbled up their long range efforts with ease.

Kelly 6, Cross 6, Bimson 6, Reid 6, LUCKETTI 8, Matthewson 7, Hughes 6, Johnson 6, Stant 7, Rigby 7, Pugh 6. Subs: West 6 (for Johnson 63 mins) , Daws 6 (for Hughes 32 mins) and Sertori. Att: 1,456.

BURY'S LUCKY STAR - centre half Chris Lucketti capped a superb performance with the opening goal to set the Shakers up for their second away victory in four days.

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