HISTORY boy Chukwuemeka Obi is the most talented 15-year-old footballer in the country, according to Bury manager David Flitcroft, following his record-breaking debut in Tuesday night's Checkatrade Trophy victory over Morecambe.

At 15 years and 86 days, the 6ft 5ins centre-back became the Shakers' youngest ever player, smashing the club's previous record of 16 years and 15 days set by Jimmy Kerr in 5-2 defeat against Norwich in September, 1965.

Obi was introduced from the substitutes bench with five minutes remaining and looked an imposing figure at the heart of the defence next to skipper Antony Kay.

“I think he’s the best talent right now at 15 years old in the entire country," Flitcroft said. “He only came in the building two years ago and nothing fazes him.

“He’s been training with the first team and he’s going back to school next week.

"We’ve had him for five weeks, training with the first team, training with Ryan Kidd and he’s been playing with the under-18s.

“He’s just turned 15, he’s a man mountain but we teach them how to play football and he’s going to be an unbelievable asset to the football club.

“He’s a kid that’s really switched on, I’ve watched him in the last five weeks while he’s been on summer holidays and he’s been in every single day."

Zeli Ismail put Bury ahead from the spot against Morecambe but Paul Mullin equalised on the stroke of half time.

Tom Pope headed Bury back in front at the start of the second half before Kay scored the third.

Pope grabbed his second of the game two minutes into stoppage time to wrap up the three points and Flitcroft was happy with the professional manner with which his side eased to victory, in the second half at least.

“The first 20 minutes I'm absolutely delighted with it," added Flitcroft. "I said to the players at half time that we just came off the tempo, at times it looked a little bit easy.

"I told them I still wanted them to remain professional, I still wanted them to move the ball quickly around the pitch and penetrate.

“I think we just moved the ball at times for possession's sake.

"So, in the second half we were really on the front foot, we looked really dominant and obviously scored the goals we probably deserved on the night, but still you’ve still got to lock the back door.

“Ben Williams (the Bury goalkeeper) was alive, he was a passenger most of the second half and pulled out a worldie from the free kick.

“He’s always focused and he’s always concentrated, so a I'm a bit disappointed with how the pitch opened up for their goal but it was a really professional night’s work and the players deserve all the credit for it."

Bury made an excellent start with Anthony Dudley providing the bright spark.

The 19-year-old striker played a one-two with Pope in the box before being tripped by Aaron McGowan.

Ismail stepped up to take the resulting penalty and sent Daniel Nizic the wrong way to give the Shakers a third-minute lead.

On the stroke of half time the visitors stole an equaliser through a brilliant Mullin strike. The midfielder had acres of space in the middle of the Bury half and he picked out the top left-hand corner with aplomb.

It took only four minutes for Bury to regain their lead after the break. Mayor broke down the left and delivered a pin-point cross for Pope to head the ball down into the bottom corner.

Tom Soares spurned a fantastic opportunity when through one-on-one, but from the following corner Kay rose the highest to score his first goal for the Shakers.

Williams was forced into a world-class save to turn Lee Molyneux's free-kick around the post late on.

There was still time for one last hammer-blow by Bury when Jacob Mellis' defence-splitting pass found Pope, who prodded in the fourth to wrap up maximum points. Bury's final two matches of the group stages are away, at Bradford City on October 4 and against Stoke City Under-23s on November 8.

Match ratings

Bury (4-4-2): Williams 7; Jones 6 (Maher 53, 6), Barnett 7, Kay 7, Leigh 7; Ismail 8 (Hope 64, 6), Soares 7, Mellis 7, Mayor 7 (Obi 85, 6); Pope 9, Dudley 7. Not used: Rachubka, Burgess, Bedeau, Harker.

Morecambe (4-2-3-1): Nizic; Wakefield (Dunn 71), Edwards, Whitmore, McGowan; Kenyon, Fleming (Murphy 84); Mullin, Molyneux, Turner; Ellison (Barkhuizen 59). Not used: Roche, Stockton, Rose, Hedley.

Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).