Bury recorded a second victory in 16 games as they thrashed Colchester.

The Shakers, who are seven points clear of the relegation zone, went ahead when Mike Grella reacted first after Efe Sodje's original header was saved.

Shaun Harrad scored after the visitors failed to clear a Steven Schumacher corner and Giles Coke got a third when he finished from Grella's pass.

Tom Eastman headed one back for the U's before Peter Sweeney picked out David Worrall, who fired low into the corner.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM.

Bury manager Richie Barker told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I thought we were excellent for 88 minutes of the match.

"We dominated the game and their goalkeeper probably made it more respectable.

"There's been a lot of doom and gloom about. We knew we were going to have a difficult time and hopefully we've come through that.

"We've given ourselves some breathing space and one win from our final four games will probably, just about, see us over the line."

Colchester United manager John Ward told BBC Essex:

"I'm really disappointed in everything I've seen this afternoon, I thought we'd got that one out of our system, those sort of defeats.

"We've slipped back into that lethargic kind of performance. We would contest a couple of the decisions in terms of the referee, but no way would I blame him.

"We've wobbled today, then it's affected our decision-making, in terms of passing.

"We've really not been strong enough in all areas of the pitch and Bury have thoroughly deserved their win."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Bury

  • 01 Bond
  • 03 Skarz
  • 16 Sodje
  • 23 N Clarke
  • 06 Sweeney (Carrington - 75' )
  • 07 Worrall (Hughes - 87' )
  • 08 Schumacher
  • 15 Coke Booked
  • 21 Jones
  • 14 Grella
  • 25 Harrad (Picken - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 20 Branagan
  • 02 Picken
  • 17 Hughes
  • 13 Carrington
  • 28 Elford-Alliyu

Colchester

  • 01 Williams
  • 03 Rose Booked
  • 06 Heath
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 10 Izzet
  • 14 Bond
  • 22 Wordsworth (Gillespie - 71' )
  • 27 Duguid (Henderson - 61' )
  • 11 Sears (Vincent - 61' )
  • 15 Odejayi

Substitutes

  • 25 White
  • 07 Vincent
  • 09 Gillespie
  • 16 Henderson
  • 21 Massey
Ref: Geoff Eltrigham
Att: 3,119

Match Stats

Shots

13 10

On target

9 4

Corners

5 4

Fouls

10 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:10 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:21

Shot by Kemal Izzet. Save made by Jonathan Bond. Short corner taken by Michael Rose.

90:00 +1:10

Free kick taken by Mark Hughes. Mike Grella is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Ben Williams.

90:00 +1:10 Substitution

Substitution Phil Picken replaces Shaun Harrad.

90:00 +1:10

Kayode Odejayi challenges Efetobore Sodje unfairly and gives away a free kick.

89:43 Booking

Booking Giles Coke is cautioned by the ref for dissent.

89:40 Booking

Booking Michael Rose receives a caution.

85:56

Free kick taken by Jonathan Bond.

85:56 Substitution

Substitution Mark Hughes is brought on as a substitute for David Worrall.

85:56

The offside flag is raised against Ashley Vincent.

83:34

Kayode Odejayi concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Clarke. Jonathan Bond restarts play with the free kick.

79:30

Unfair challenge on Kayode Odejayi by Joe Skarz results in a free kick. Strike comes in from Michael Rose from the free kick.

79:04

Brian Wilson fouled by Mike Grella, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

77:04

Effort from deep inside the area by Ashley Vincent misses to the right of the target.

74:48

Free kick taken by Ben Williams.

74:48 Substitution

Substitution Mark Carrington on for Peter Sweeney.

74:48

The assistant referee flags for offside against Mike Grella.

73:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Giles Coke on Andy Bond. Brian Wilson takes the free kick.

72:35

The assist for the goal came from Peter Sweeney.

72:35 Goal scored

Goal - David Worrall - Bury 4 - 1 Colchester David Worrall scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bury 4-1 Colchester.

71:58

The referee blows for offside against Mike Grella. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.

70:16 Substitution

Substitution Steven Gillespie comes on in place of Anthony Wordsworth.

69:10

Corner taken by Steven Schumacher, clearance made by Matt Heath.

68:00

Peter Sweeney is ruled offside. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

66:05

Peter Sweeney is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.

64:34

Peter Sweeney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Henderson. Brian Wilson takes the free kick.

62:54

Anthony Wordsworth has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

62:26

Unfair challenge on Steven Schumacher by Andy Bond results in a free kick. Joe Skarz takes the direct free kick.

60:30 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Vincent joins the action as a substitute, replacing Freddie Sears.

60:30 Substitution

Substitution Ian Henderson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Karl Duguid.

60:30

Anthony Wordsworth produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

57:45

Corner taken by Steven Schumacher played to the near post. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Steven Schumacher from the right by-line.

56:54

The assist for the goal came from Anthony Wordsworth.

56:54 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Eastman - Bury 3 - 1 Colchester Tom Eastman scores a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Bury 3-1 Colchester.

56:37

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Anthony Wordsworth played to the near post,

55:06 Goal scored

Goal - Giles Coke - Bury 3 - 0 Colchester Giles Coke finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bury 3-0 Colchester.

54:22

Mike Grella gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Eastman. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Williams.

52:16

Peter Sweeney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian Wilson. Anthony Wordsworth shoots direct from the free kick.

49:41

David Worrall is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Brian Wilson.

48:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Skarz by Kayode Odejayi. Jonathan Bond takes the free kick.

46:41

Andrai Jones has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +0:58 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

44:42

Foul by Shaun Harrad on Brian Wilson, free kick awarded. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.

42:32 Goal scored

Goal - Shaun Harrad - Bury 2 - 0 Colchester Goal scored by Shaun Harrad from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bury 2-0 Colchester.

41:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Karl Duguid on Steven Schumacher. Steven Schumacher restarts play with the free kick. Corner taken short by Steven Schumacher.

39:01 Goal scored

Goal - Mike Grella - Bury 1 - 0 Colchester Mike Grella scores a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bury 1-0 Colchester.

38:26

Kemal Izzet gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Schumacher. Steven Schumacher takes the free kick.

35:08

Unfair challenge on Joe Skarz by Freddie Sears results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Skarz.

30:13

Headed effort from close range by Giles Coke goes wide left of the goal.

28:15

Giles Coke has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by Tom Eastman.

27:03

Anthony Wordsworth has a volleyed shot. Save by Jonathan Bond.

25:57

Foul by Efetobore Sodje on Anthony Wordsworth, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Brian Wilson.

25:32

Shot by Steven Schumacher from 20 yards. Save by Ben Williams.

25:07

David Worrall takes a shot.

24:31

Steven Schumacher takes the inswinging corner, Brian Wilson makes a clearance.

20:34

Foul by Joe Skarz on Brian Wilson, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Wordsworth.

16:40

David Worrall takes a shot. Blocked by Karl Duguid.

14:37

The referee blows for offside. Matt Heath takes the indirect free kick.

13:42

Mike Grella takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.

9:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Eastman by Shaun Harrad. Direct free kick taken by Tom Eastman.

8:37

Michael Rose challenges David Worrall unfairly and gives away a free kick. Centre by Peter Sweeney, Header from close range by Joe Skarz misses to the right of the goal.

7:47

Peter Sweeney takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.

7:01

Andy Bond takes a long range shot clearing the crossbar.

0:19

Freddie Sears takes a shot. Save made by Jonathan Bond. Anthony Wordsworth takes a outswinging corner. Anthony Wordsworth decides to take a short corner.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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