Bury 2 Lincoln City 0 by Chris Hall: SHAKERS' hard-fought first win in five matches gave the strongest indication yet that their luck may be changing.

Impressive performances by Andy Preece's charges have rarely been rewarded with maximum points, as last week's frustrating defeat to Rushden proved only too well.

But, despite thoroughly deserving their first two-goal victory of the campaign, they relied heavily on good fortune to seal the result which propelled them back into the play-off zone.

Midfielder George Clegg ended their six-and-a-half hour goal drought with an impressive double strike in the first half but they were kept on the back foot for the majority of the second period and were only saved by some embarrassing finishing from the visitors.

Inspirational substitute Simon Yeo proved the biggest thorn in Bury's side but he was denied by a magnificent save from Glyn Garner and pushed and prodded four other gilt-edged efforts wide of the target, to leave Preece counting his newfound blessings.

"I said to the players before the game that we deserved a bit of luck and that, if we kept working hard, we would get it," he said. "That's what happened today," said an overjoyed Preece, whose post-goal celebrations were as rousing as any player's.

"The lads worked so hard in the first half to get the ball down and pass it around. Their energy and movement really opened Lincoln up."

"But I was just as delighted with their bravery in the second half. There are a lot of young lads in our side and some are feeling very tired now but they were determined not to concede a goal."

Clegg opened the scoring after 32 minutes by lashing home a volley at the far post after Red Imps keeper Alan Marriott had parried a Jon Newby shot.

And he calmly slotted home the second from six yards out ten minutes later after great back tackling by dogged striker Colin Cramb and a crisply played one-two with Newby.

Yeo led the visitors' charge but the assault came from all angles. Garner tipped an Alan Pearce lob to safety, Ben Futcher somehow shot wide from one yard out, Daniel Webb hit the crossbar and Michael Nelson was forced to make a goal-line clearance in a torrid closing spell.

But Shakers clung on bravely and will draw boundless confidence from their most impressive display of 2003.

Form guide:

Garner 8, Connell 7, Clegg 8, Nelson 8, Swailes 7, Woodthorpe 8, Forrest 8, Billy 7, Cramb 7, Abbott 8, Newby 8.

Subs: Preece (for Newby 87mins), Dunfield (for Cramb 74mins) 6, Stuart (for Connell 68mins) 6. Not used: Porter, Redmond.

Attendance: 2,776

Referee: M Clattenburg