Bury Town's excellent form has stretched into a sixth straight league win, following a dramatic 4-3 victory over West Suffolk rivals Leiston at Ram Meadow on Bank Holiday Monday. The result keeps Cole Skuse's side in second place in the Southern League Premier Central Division, trailing leaders Real Bedford only on goal difference.
It was an eventful ninety minutes in west Suffolk. Jamie McGrath put the hosts ahead early on, and it wasn't long before centre-back Tommy Smith added a second, tucking away a chance created from a scramble in the Leiston box. The visitors responded well, with two goals from Adam Mills either side of the half-hour mark pulling them level, only for Smith to put Bury back in front shortly after the interval. Leiston refused to fold, and Willie Clemons brought the scores level for a third time with the game entering its closing stages. It took until deep into added time for the contest to be settled, when Smith rose to meet a cross from the right and nod home his third of the afternoon.
A hat-trick is not something Smith, a centre-back by trade, is used to producing. Reflecting on the win, he described the achievement as something he could never have pictured for himself given his usual role on the pitch, and said scoring in front of home supporters against a rival club made it feel all the more special.
Smith joined Bury Town in the close season after a period at National League South outfit Braintree Town, arriving fresh from representing New Zealand at this year's World Cup. Now 36, he has won over fifty caps for the All Whites and began his career in England as an Ipswich Town academy product, later spending time on loan at Bury earlier in his playing days. His move to the club also reunited him with manager Cole Skuse, with the pair having played alongside each other at both Ipswich and Colchester United.
Skuse has spoken highly of the impact Smith has had in a short space of time. The Bury manager rates him among the best he has played alongside in the air, noting that heading is a skill that has become increasingly rare in the modern game. He also credited Smith more broadly for the contribution he has made to the squad since arriving, describing the signing as a real success for the club.
An unbeaten start built around experience and know-how has Bury Town well placed heading into the autumn. With six wins from six and a genuine title race developing against Real Bedford, there's plenty for supporters at Ram Meadow to be optimistic about.
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