Kidderminster 0 Bury 2 by Phil Thorp: AFTER three straight defeats in their opening three fixtures Bury's trip to Kidderminster, who boasted a 100 per cent league record, was probably a banker home win on most punters' fixed odds coupons.

But they wouldn't have bargained for the battling display that Andy Preece's men put in and a plot and cast that could have been lifted from a boys' own comic.

A player who didn't know he was playing until he was hauled out of bed on the morning of the match. One whose career was thought to be finished a few short months ago and some patched-up performers who, given a bigger squad, probably wouldn't have been included in the starting line-up due to fitness doubts, all combined to earn the Shakers their first win of the new campaign.

Preece's plans were dashed by a phone call from midfielder Lee Connell who was taken ill during the early hours of Saturday morning and a call went out to Paul O'Shaughnessy.

O'Shaughnessy, who had only played 20 minutes for the reserves Wednesday after an injury-hit pre-season honestly thought he wouldn't even be on the bench once the team arrived at Aggborough.

But fortunately, the magnitude of his shock at being told he was in the eleven was matched by the guts and spirit he and his teammates showed throughout the ninety minutes.

The Shakers could have opened the scoring as early as the 12th minute when pacy left-winger Harpal Singh showed the Harriers' defence a clean pair of heels but lashed a low drive just wide of the post.

The Shakers took the lead in the 27th minute when Colin Woodthorpe started the move by picking out Preece with a good ball. The gaffer's flicked header sent debutant Phil Charnock into the box and his low cross from the left was steered home by Chris Porter for his second goal in two weeks.

The teenager failed to finish the game but his replacement Gareth Seddon adequately filled his boots by grabbing the important second three minutes from the end.

By that time Matt Barrass was in an unfamiliar midfield role after replacing the impressive Charnock, who ran himself into the ground for an hour only to end up with cramp in both calves; epitomising the Bury spirit.

Meanwhile Steve Gunby replaced Lee Duxbury for the final ten minutes and it was the youngster's deft flick that set up Seddon for his expert finish and a goal celebration with the Bury fans that earned him a booking from rookie referee Lee Probert.

Bury manager Preece said: "I can't be more pleased with the effort the lads put in, everyone's shattered at the end of the game because they gave their all for the shirt."

BURY: Garner 7, Unsworth 7, Swailes 7, Strong 8, Woodthorpe 8, O'Shaughnessy 8, Duxbury 7 (Gunby, 80, 7), Charnock 7 (Barrass, 60, 7), Singh 8, Porter 8 (Seddon, 86, 7), Preece 8. Subs not used: Kennedy and Nugent.

ATTENDANCE: 2,548

REFEREE: Lee Probert