Anthony Johnson was full of praise for Kai Evans after the winger’s brace helped Bury beat Leek Town 5-3 at Gigg Lane.
Evans curled home a stunning free kick and then picked out the bottom corner with a lovely finish to take his tally to 13 for the campaign.
“Both goals, the other goal was an absolutely brilliant finish. You knew as soon as he lined the free kick, he’d seen something,” said Johnson.
“His confidence is through the roof, the kid’s flying. He’s an unbelievable player for us and his confidence is as good as it’s been.
“It is good to see, he is playing with a smile on his face and absolutely destroying right-backs. I thought there were some really good performances throughout the team.”
Owen Robinson, Mo Touray and Dom Telford also got on the scoresheet as the Shakers went 5-0 up before a late scare.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, from the 10th minute to the 78th minute was the best performance since I've been at the Football Club. We were absolutely unbelievable, unplayable, I loved every moment of it,” the manager added.
“Our first goal was an unbelievable move, not against the run of play because we got control of the game. But then from that point on, we were a different class.
“Really comfortable and confident on the ball in possession, creating chance after chance and it should have been five or six at half time.
“You could argue they had a couple of half chances in the first half. Second half, same again, outstanding.
“The concentration levels, especially on a Tuesday night for both sides when lads have been at work, you have that 15 minutes and then you’ve got to try and get them switched on again for the second half.”
Telford’s goal was his first since rejoining the Shakers from Gateshead earlier this month, steering home Evans’ cross.
Johnson made plenty of changes to keep energy levels as high as possible during the busy schedule, but the boss admitted his side lost their shape late in the game.
“I started to make some subs,” he said. “Dom Telford came on and got a goal, brilliant finish. I thought Tom Carr, prior to that, did all the hard work without getting a goal. Dom came on, great little finish from a cross from Kai, and a brilliant goal from Mo as well.
“Then like I've done when we've been in clear leads, probably the last five or six times at home over the last couple of months, especially with Saturday-Tuesdays in mind, keeping people fresh.
“For the first time, it really affected our shape. I think they had probably two or three shots in the second half and each went in.
“Never a penalty in a million years! But it just felt like we were hanging on a little bit despite being 5-0 up. That is on me, I changed half the team.
“The first couple of changes when Glenno (George Glendon) and Dom came on, it pushed us on. But then I think changing the backline – and Bobby (Carroll) came off – it made us disjointed. It is nothing to do with individuals, there wasn’t error from anyone’s part.
“I think me making so many changes at that point caused a little bit of chaos and they played on that a little bit.”
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