I WAS lucky enough to be at the match on Saturday and it was amazing the number of fans that came up to me saying it was the best they had seen Bury play for a good few years.

To a man they were absolutely superb, from start to finish.

From the goalkeeper right through to number 11, they all contributed to a fantastic team performance.

It looked as if they could score every time they went forward, and all this against a side in Port Vale that were riding high near the top of the table after proving very difficult to beat in the opening months of the campaign.

A lot of the plaudits went to James Vaughan, and rightly so.

He is a class act and looks to have the ability to be a really potent threat at this level.

Together with Tom Pope, Bury have a strike partnership that would be the envy of any side in League One.

The trick, of course, will be keeping them both fit.

As I said though, this was a team display, and central midfielders Tom Soares and Jacob Mellis were at the heart of it.

They showed that 4-4-2 can work against any formation, if the two men in the middle of the park are willing to work their socks off.

Both players seemed to be all over the pitch, first to every second ball and in total control of the game.

As soon as they were in possession their first thought was to spread it wide, where Zeli Ismail and Danny Mayor both had excellent games.

Bury showed they have some very good individuals, but if they all come together and rise to the same high level like they did against Port Vale then they would be a match for any team in this league.

It was clear they were bursting with confidence and it was great to see

Sadly, this will be my last column for the Bury Times as I start a new job, but it was great to end it on such a positive note.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing about the Shakers, who will always be the first team I look out for when the results roll in on a Saturday tea time.

It has been a great thing for me to do and I hope people have enjoyed reading it, even if they have not always agreed with everything I have said.

I am very grateful to the Bury Times for giving me the opportunity to give a heartfelt opinion about a club I will always love, and I wish everyone connected with the Shakers all the very best.

Up the Shakers.