A second half Gareth McAuley header gave a strong Blues side a 1-0 friendly victory over Bury Town at Ram Meadow. The home side kept Town on terms in the first half, but the visitors made their superiority show after the break and in the end should have won more comfortably.

Town lined up with Tamás Priskin in the centre of the front three in Connor Wickham’s absence, with Carlos Edwards on the left and Jon Walters on the right. Luke Hyam took up the deeper lying midfield role with Grant Leadbitter and Conor Hourihane ahead of him.

Tommy Smith returned to the centre of the defence for the first time since the World Cup, while new signing Mark Kennedy was amongst the subs.

Jon Stead, Owen Garvan and Alex Bruce were missing with their moves to Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Leeds ongoing. Colin Healy remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury along with David Norris (back), Damien Delaney (thigh) and Wickham (ankle).

New man Hourihane hit the game’s first shot in the 17th minute, albeit well over after a neat Edwards layback.

It had been a slow start from the Blues with Ryman League Premier Division Bury passing the ball around neatly, but in the 20th minute skipper Jon Walters went close when he nodded Grant Leadbitter’s hook into the area over after a corner.

Five minutes later Leadbitter shot wide, then just before the half hour mark Walters took down a long pass, cut in and hit a shot over.

Hourihane struck a left-foot shot across the face of goal in the 33rd minute, then the home side came close to going in front with the move of the half. Former Blues academy striker Kieran Leabon fed Chris Henderson down the left, Brian Murphy pulling off a fine save and also stopping Scott Chaplin’s rebound.

On 40 Walters played in Priskin one-on-one with Bury keeper Marcus Garnham, who blocked from the Hungarian international, who looked short on confidence after his disappointing year at Portman Road.

New signing Mark Kennedy was introduced at half-time, taking over from Conor Hourihane, who as at Leiston last night impressed, this time in a more attacking role. His left-foot set pieces also look likely to become a regular fixture once he has established himself in the first team. Kennedy went to left-back with Shane O’Connor switching to midfield.

Early in the second period Edwards headed a Peters cross straight at Garnham, then the Bury keeper, who played a few games for Town’s U18s and reserves in 2005 and 2006, saved Leadbitter’s low 20-yard drive.

On 51 Priskin had another good chance to put Town in front but failed to get a significant touch as he looked to take the ball past the keeper and Garnham got a toe to it.

Moments later, Walters headed over from a half-cleared corner, then in the 55th minute Smith flicked a header well wide from another corner on the right.

Gareth McAuley was denied twice on the hour mark from a corner. First the Northern Irishman’s header was cleared off the line, then his subsequent effort was blocked.

From the resultant corner, the ball was played back in from deep by Peters, Walters flicked on, Priskin laid off to O’Connor, who forced Garnham to make the save of the game, pushing his shot wide.

The goal which had been coming for most of the half finally came in the 63rd minute, Gareth McAuley powerfully heading in from eight yards from a cross from the right. While Bury prepared for the kick-off, Reggie Lambe replaced O’Connor with Edwards moving into the centre.

On 74 Priskin, who was getting more and more into the game, twisted and turned his way into the penalty area but stabbed weakly at the keeper, who also stopped his spectacular overhead kick rebound.

Four minutes later a Priskin flick put Walters in the clear, but the Town skipper saw his effort saved. Soon after, Leadbitter’s shot from the edge of the box deflected through to the keeper.

Bury will be pleased with the manner in which they matched Town in the first half, but on the balance of the second period the Blues deserved the win and probably should have scored more than the single goal with Tamás Priskin and Jon Walters amongst those guilty of misses.

New man Kennedy looked assured and confident at left-back, loudly issuing instructions to his team-mates throughout, giving little sign that he had only joined the club earlier in the day.

Town: Murphy, Peters, O’Connor (Lambe 63), Hyam, McAuley, Smith, Walters, Hourihane (Kennedy 46), Priskin, Leadbitter, Edwards. Unused: McLoughlin, Ainsley, Brown. Att: 1025.

Photo: Action Images

Suffolk_n_Good added 22:38 - Jul 28 Its ok people saying this is only a friendly, but this was probably our current strongest line-up, & we are less than 2 weeks away from the new season. We so seriously need 4 or 5 new players across the park, The powers that be at PR need to start pulling their fingers out & make good quality, long term signings, that will improve the team, theres absolutley no point in letting players go (however average they are) without replacements being in place. I desperately want us to get off to a flyer, but can't help feeling throughly cheesed off at the moment....... Am I losing, or have I lost "The Faith"

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Brad_C_ITFC added 22:41 - Jul 28 Getton Macca
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ramseyn added 22:41 - Jul 28 Don't lose it suffolkngood... You've got to admit it's pretty gripping stuff. I'm lovin it, think I'll set the alarm for 3am to check the site for the next instalment.
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Youth added 22:46 - Jul 28 i've never been so anxious in pre season must admit its gona get more exciting haha
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:53 - Jul 28 LOL ramseyn. However, I just can't see Phil posting the latest news story at 3am!!
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ramseyn added 22:57 - Jul 28 Maybe not, but I'm hoping clegg, compo and foggy will be on the agents hotline at 3am, that's mid afternoon in South America.
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pottyblue added 22:59 - Jul 28 good to hear priskins name not only getting chances but creating them aswell ,only needs one to go in and will be ok
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devontractorboy added 23:01 - Jul 28 Real Test will be West Ham Saturday, I have always said I thought we have the players to do OK, but not the manager to 'manage' them, having said that the exits are alarming and the 'three Amigo' signings are yet to appear I believe. This has all been left too late again by the club (not just Keanes fault) and we will again have to look for form in all important league games. lets hope Lady Luck gives us a good start, we sure as feck need it!!! Also give Priskin a run without getting on his back and maybe, just maybe he'll deliver the goods?

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BruceIsGod added 23:01 - Jul 28 YOU ARE A DISGRACE! you made bury look a league one team.. kennedy got crunched and priskin your a joke to society
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Coolpooper added 23:02 - Jul 28 Squad is weak as dish water. The proposed sales of Stead, Bruce & Garvan are nothing short of madness with the current dilemmas. Unless Keane has some certain replacements lined up we are going into the new season weaker than we were last. Bring on West Ham & Spurs. Those games will certainly prove some points.
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ramseyn added 23:09 - Jul 28 Let's have some perspective bruceisgod.
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Doctor_Albran added 23:40 - Jul 28 All tonight was about was fitness - that means putting the yards in, running your ass off, etc, etc, etc - the result is irrelevant. Saturday will be the real test. Whilst I agree we need to get some signings in and I hope they will come - it's still good that we are blooding some youngsters and injuries can sometimes be turned to our advantage by creating a seige mentality (the world is against us) for the squad. However, it's not like the team needs to imagine the worlds against them, just print of some of the pages on here, Pro-keaners, anti-keaners and a smattering of secret scummers all moaning. Get a grip boys and girls.

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WadzillaBhoy added 00:04 - Jul 29 Last time we played West Ham at PR in pre season we lost 5 - 0. Anything less than that is an improvement. I think the moaners just like to have a good old moan no matter what, I reckon they would moan about winning the lottery! Because of this I just ignore it all now as what they say most of the time is irrelevant and counter-productive anyway. Keep the faith COYB

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suffolksam added 00:15 - Jul 29 bury 1-0 looks like another season of not being able to score.. middlesboro must be terrified after watching this
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robdaful added 00:16 - Jul 29 Strikers!!!!! "Where are ya? Lets be having ya!!!!!!!!!" (as the ipswich town fan Delia Smith once said)
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arc added 04:20 - Jul 29 Edwards on the left?? Oh no, shoot me now...
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suffolksam added 06:52 - Jul 29 found them !!!!!! they are in the 4th div i searched through the premier the 2nd the 3rd then scotland was almost going to check the continent then thought i better check the 4th and the 5th and there they were BURY european champions 6 times fa cup winners 9 times div 1 league champions 46 times the pride of england one of the most powerful clubs in the leagues how did keane and co even get a friendly against such a quality team never mind beat them away.suely this is one of of our greatest days what a result well done lads you are town legends each and everyone of you

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16_Jack_ken_16 added 07:36 - Jul 29 always te defenders who have to do the dirty work hahahahaha well in
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Suffolk_n_Good added 07:57 - Jul 29 ramseyn, hats off to you son! I said Phil wouldn't post at 3am, but as he DID post a story at 2:04am, ("trio still in talks" Headline) I'm gonna let you have that!! All I can say is:....... I hope your alarm went off!!!!
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brogansnose added 08:25 - Jul 29 The worrying thing, amongst other things, is that if Priskin needs goals to get his confidence up then it needs to be against teams like Bury. Stick Ronan Murray up front. Its not the answer but whats to lose.
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james1989 added 09:08 - Jul 29 oooooo we scored 1 goal! we shud be netting 5 6 cant wait for the season to start not!!!!!!!
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itfctim1974 added 09:10 - Jul 29 Whilst at the game last night i was told by a friend of an agent that the deals for Chopra & Fulop would be done today. Lets hope so as we really do need somebody to replace Priskin.
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Youth added 09:45 - Jul 29 chopra would be a good signing fingers crossed! good goalscorer and good passion for the game!
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corshamblue added 10:00 - Jul 29 Keano was pleased with signing Hourihane, and Sunderland not so pleased - seems to be a very decent signing and will only get better as the season progresses. Still got my fingers crossed that lil' Jack may return surplus to requirements up north and Chopra will at last sign. C'mon you blues.
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SiBo added 10:29 - Jul 29 corshamblue: I can't see Sunderland letting Colback back... shame really. But i do agree it appears Hourihane is a promising addition. I like the idea of letting younger, hungrier players into the first team.
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