BURY stormed into the second round of the FA Cup after sweeping Wigan aside at Gigg Lane.

The Shakers completed the cup double over the League One heavyweights after knocking them out of the Capital One Cup earlier in the season.

That game hung on a knife edge until Leon Clarke sealed victory with a late penalty, but this match was all but over by half time.

David Flitcroft’s men went into the break 3-0 up following goals by Tom Pope, Danny Mayor and captain Nathan Cameron, who made a welcome return from injury.

The Bury defence looked happy to have their skipper back as they completely closed out a Wigan side that went into the tie unbeaten in 10 matches.

Unlike last week, when Bury also scored four goals in a 4-3 victory over Blackpool, fans were not subjected to a nail-biting finish.

After a slow start, they were handed the lead on 18 minutes when Wigan keeper Richard O’Donnell made a complete hash of what looked like a regulation save from a Pope header.

From that moment on the Shakers played some stunning stuff.

Danny Rose headed just over after a great move down the left while Peter Clarke had a header saved and Tom Soares drilled a shot wide from 30 yards.

The second goal came in the 34th minute after Bury broke from a Wigan corner. Jacob Mellis drew in the covering Latics defenders and played in Mayor who powered a first-time shot past O’Donnell on the run.

Will Grigg fluffed a close-range chance and Craig Davies tested on-loan stopper Daniel Bachmann from distance before Cameron added a conclusive third goal for Bury on the stroke of half time.

Pope rose highest at the back post to head Danny Pugh’s deep cross goalwards and Cameron applied the finishing touch to shepherd the ball over the line.

Wigan boss Gary Caldwell attempted to stir up his side with a double substitution at half time, but the introduction of forwards Yanic Wildschut and Michael Jacobs did little to disturb the flow of the game.

Instead, it was Bury substitute Leon Clarke who settled it on 66 minutes, bundling over a Joe Riley cross five minutes after coming on.

The goal marked an emotional return after Bury's top scorer, who took his tally for the season to 10, missed the last match on compassionate leave to be with his seriously ill mother.

Bury's fourth goal cued a mass exodus of the 1,300-strong travelling support, with those who remained entertaining themselves by keeping every ball that was kicked into the away end.

But it was the home supporters who undoubtedly enjoyed the final minutes the most after watching their side dismantle a team that won the FA Cup in 2013 and made the semi-final the following season.

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MATCH REACTION

Bury manager described the 4-0 win against Wigan as possibly the best team performance since he took over at Gigg Lane.

He said: "In terms of defensively and offensive play and getting what we want from this game (it was possibly our best since I took over).

"We caused them trouble and problems all the time, so yes it is probably as good as a performance, maybe since I have taken over - in terms of the win, the importance of the win and the importance of a clean sheet and four goals.

"I have got the ultimate respect for Wigan, the people who work at Wigan and Gary Caldwell, I said that to the players that we are going to really respect this football match.

"If you don't do it right against arguably the best team in the league then it could have turned nasty for us but it never did.

"The players carried the game plan off to an absolute T.

"We knew where we could hurt them, we wanted to get crosses in and penetrate the box and we did that.

"To keep a clean sheet as well - comprehensive is a good word but I think it was a real compelling afternoon.

"For me every single one of them showed a team ethic. It wasn't about individuals. It was about how that team performed as one and they did that."

Flitcroft on the FA Cup: "We're in the hat. I have always loved this competition and always will. I have got three lads who I talk to about the FA Cup and what it means to us as a family.

"I have had some good moments in it.

"It might be the first round, but there was an upset last night at Salford, so you have got to take it with the highest respect.

"It is our best domestic trophy by a country mile. I embrace it, I loved playing in it and I respect everything about it.

"To be in the next round was the key.

"It gets extra revenue into the club and gives us a chance to be in the hat and get another game, whether it is here or away from home.

"That's what pleases me.

"We have got a chairman and board who work ridiculously hard for this football club and it gives them an opportunity to go into the next round. So I am delighted for the football club."

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MATCH STATS 

BURY (4-4-2): Bachmann; Riley, P Clarke, Cameron, Hussey; Mellis (Burgess 85), Soares (Brown 80), Pugh, Mayor; Pope, Rose (L Clarke 61).

Not used: Kenny, Sedgwick.

WIGAN (5-2-3): O'Donnell; Love, Daniels, Morgan, McCann, James; Perkins, Junior (Power 62); Grigg (Jacobs 46), Vuckic (Wildschut 46), Davies.

Not used: Jaaskelainen, Cowie, Chow, Barnett.

Referee: David Coote.

Attendance: 3,856 (1,296 visiting).