MORECAMBE clinched their second successive League Two win to move them up to 10th in the table.
>> Watch the Slideshow hereAgainst a side who had lost just once in 12 games the Shrimps produced some stunning football which saw them tear Bury apart in a wonderful first half.
Although Bury did come back strongly in the second period some fine defending and superb goalkeeping from Joe Lewis kept them at bay.
Lewis once again ended the game bruised and battered and few will recognise him in Norwich now as he added a broken nose to the 20 stitches he picked up at Rotherham last month. Looking more like boxer Joe Louis than Joe Lewis he refused to go off the pitch after being struck accidentally by Andy Mangan and went on to make a string of fine late saves to add to his growing reputation.
But the high point of this game was undoubtedly the fantastic first half showing. The passing and movement was sensational at times with boss Sammy McIlroy saying "it was the best football I have seen from any side at this level."
Morecambe's movement was simply too hot for Bury to cope with and they were soon ahead when skipper Jim Bentley reacted sharply in the box to volley home Adam Yates's cross after a neat David Artell flick.
A second, deserved goal was not long in coming with a Michael Twiss special. The popular striker scored his second in successive weeks with a stunning left foot strike from the edge of the area on 27 minutes that whistled past Bury keeper Jim Provett.
>> Vote for your man of the matchThe Shrimps then went for the jugular but were denied by Provett who did well to save Artell's near post flick and Carl Baker's clever, curling free kick which was heading for the top left hand corner.
Damien Allen then headed over a Baker cross from close range as Bury had no answer.
Jon Newby came close to killing the game off on 50 minutes when he volleyed a Bentley knock down against the crossbar from close range but from there Bury came back strongly and began to take the game to the Shrimps.
Substitute Nicky Adams was their spur and after volleying over the bar just seconds after coming on he forced Lewis into the first of several important saves.
On the hour the Morecambe keeper did well to get down low to his right to hold on to Richard Barker's 25 yarder before racing well to thwart Mangan, and pick up his broken nose, as he got behind Artell.
Lewis battled through the pain however to superbly save from Adams again before Bury pulled one back through top scorer Andy Bishop after Lewis had blocked Ben Futcher's close range header.
Bury continued to pile on the pressure after the goal with Lewis in the thick of the action again making two excellent last saves from Liam Hughes.
At the other end Morecambe threatened on the break with Newby firing straight to Provett and Wayne Curtis and Twiss curling efforts just wide before the end of a highly rewarding afternoon.
MORECAMBE: Lewis 9; Yates 7, Artell 7, Bentley 8, Adams 7, Hunter 7 (rep Sorvel 81), Allen 7 (rep Curtis 81), Stanley 7, Baker 7, Twiss 8, Newby 7. Subs not used: Davies, Lloyd, Howard.
BURY: Provett 7, Scott 6, Woodthorpe 7, Futcher 7, Morgan 6; Haslam 6 (rep Hughes 74), Baker 7, Hurst 6 (rep Mangan 59, 7), Bullock 6; Barry-Murphy 6 (rep Adams 51, 8), Bishop 7. Subs not used: Buchanan, Parrish. Booked: Woodthorpe.
Star player: Joe Lewis - bruised, battered and brave display.
Ref: R Shoebridge 6/10 - a decent overall performance.
Att: 3,124.
Match sponsor: Tribal Group
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