Bury Town stay top of the Isthmian League North Division following derby victory over Newmarket Town

Bury Town maintained their grip on top spot in the early Pitching In Isthmian League North Division standings thanks to tonight’s 2-1 derby win over Newmarket Town.

A goal in either half from Cemal Ramadan and Ryan Horne was ultimately enough for the hosting Blues to claim all three points from what was the first league meeting between these two sides since the 2005/06 campaign.

Bury were swift out of the traps and could have been a couple of goals to the good inside three minutes. Ramadan did not get the cleanest of connections to a shot that was saved by James Young, while in the next attack Ollie Canfer was unable to apply the finishing touch to Tom Thulborn’s right-wing cross.

However, the Blues did not have to wait too much longer to break the deadlock. Bury winger Mikey Davis looked to have been crowded out inside the box, only for Newmarket midfielder Ally Conway to upend him from behind. Ramadan stepped up to slot the resultant spot kick beyond the reach of Young for his sixth goal of the campaign.

With their tails up, the hosts went in search of goal number two and it almost came in the 10th minute. Ryan Horne’s clever chipped reverse pass was volleyed goalwards by an advancing Ed Upson, but Young was equal to the veteran midfielder’s effort.

It took Newmarket a period of time to settle into the contest, but once they did they started to get some joy – particularly from the high press. It almost paid off in the 35th minute when Jordan Foster sprinted free inside the area, but while his effort got the better of Charlie Beckwith in the Bury goal, Lewis O’Malley got back to clear.

That sparked a spell of decent attacking intent from the away team either side of the half-time whistle. Beckwith showed good reflexes to turn over a corner from Ryan Cole, who also whistled a shot from distance not too far off target.

At the start of the second half Josh Lee slashed an effort well wide from 10 yards out and then Foster could only send a volley wide from Jake Eady’s long throw in the 56th minute.

And within 60 seconds those missed chances were punished by Bury’s second goal of the encounter. Deep lying midfielder Horne broke into the box on the right hand side and with a narrowing angle he lifted the ball over Young and into the roof of the net.

Yet rather than look their wounds, Newmarket’s response was positive and by the hour mark they had halved the deficit. Bury failed to deal with a high ball into their territory and centre-back James Chivers was on hand to prod the ball home from close range.

After that it was Newmarket – without laying siege to the Bury goal – that looked the more likely to score the game’s next goal. Substitute Jose Santa de la Paz headed over from the centre of the goal in the 75th minute, while six minutes later Conway’s effort from inside the box was always rising.

With stoppage time fast approaching Newmarket went direct and it almost paid dividends when the ball broke for Eady twice, but the defender was off target on both occasions.

Bury, who are three points clear at the summit, will travel to Basildon United on Saturday, while on the same day Newmarket – winless in the league after three games since their promotion – head to higher-league Lowestoft Town in the Emirates FA Cup (both 3pm).

Bury: Beckwith, White, O’Malley, Curry, Horne, Upson (Jolland 72’), Davis, Thulborn, Mayhew, Canfer, Ramadan (Carter 90’)

Newmarket: Young, Robinson, Eady, Chivers, Cole, Walter, Dean (Gardner 77’) Conway, Mingay (De La Paz 52’), Foster, Lee (Leech 84’)

Attendance: 559