Louis Harper scored in Walden's rout of Team Bury on Saturday.

SAFFRON Walden maintained their push for promotion with a comfortable home win on Saturday against mid-table Team Bury.

The result moves The Bloods up to second place in the league table, with 12 games to go.

In cold conditions, another excellent crowd of 207 fans, saw Walden make another strong start kicking down the slope, and in only the third minute a well directed free kick from Louis Harper was well headed into the net by Chris Reid with a well timed run.

Stuart Wardley then had a header cleared off the line as the Team Bury defence came under extreme pressure in the first 10 minutes. A second goal seemed inevitable, and arrived in the 13th minute when Joe Rudkin unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards which the Team Bury keeper was unable to stop.

Rudkin, Dan Grindrod and Wardley all had chances which were off-target, before a 33rd minute corner was dropped by the keeper, and Wardley’s volley was blocked in the goalmouth.

Walden continued to surge forward, but despite efforts from James Crane, Harper and Darren Bicknell, they were unable to add to their lead, as Team Bury defended stubbornly.

Play became more end to end after the break as Jason Harvey had a bit more to do in the Walden goal. In the 55th minute Dan Dea’th shot over the bar after a good run by Crane, then three minutes later Liam Wales also shot over for Team Bury following their best move of the game, which had real pace.

Ross Laird struck a good volley straight at the keeper in the 65th minute, before Sam Peters responded with a good break a minute later and struck the foot of the Walden post with a low 25 yard shot.

The game was finally made safe in the 78th minute when Harper twisted and turned on the edge of the box before striking a low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

Eight minutes later Walden attacked down the right, Matt Snelling beat the keeper to the ball and managed to square it across the goalmouth to Bicknell who scored from six yards to make it 4-0.

The only stain on the copy book was Rudkin’s sending off deep into injury time for kicking out at an opponent.

Next Saturday the Bloods face a difficult away match at Long Melford, following their midweek Hinchingbrook Cup Quarter-final at Wellingborough Whitworth.

WALDEN: Jason Harvey, Dan Dea’th, Dan Grindrod, Matt Snelling (Dan Phelan – 83 mins), Chris Reid, Stuart Wardley, James Crane, Joe Rudkin, Ross Laird (Peter Flack – 85 mins), Louis Harper, Darren Bicknell (Peter Davies – 85 mins).