A superb Barry Hayles strike deep into injury time snatched a dramatic victory at Bury this afternoon.

It was an amazing finale to an entertaining game which had seemed destined for stalemate and was reminicent of the snatch-and-grab win at Rochdale last month.

The home side were searching for their first goal, and their first point of the campaign in front of the Gigg Lane faithful at the fifth time of asking. Meanwhile Cheltenham had League Two's only unbeaten record away from home to protect.

Bury started the game the brighter of the two sides and shaded the first period with a slick display of attacking football, although Cheltenham produced a better performance in the second and had created chances to pinch a result long before the veteran frontman supplied the late drama.

Cheltenham then are the only side in the division to have scored in every game to date, but it can only be a matter of time before Bury find that elusive goal on today's evidence.

TEAM NEWS: Boss Martin Allen made one change to his side, replacing Kyle Haynes with winger Marley Watkins. The 17-year-old right back was ruled out with a dead leg. Elvis Hammond, who has missed the previous three games after picking up an ankle injury in the Bradford game, took his place on the bench. Julian Alsop continued his quest to surpass Martin Devaney's Football League record of 38 goals, starting his second game in succession here.

First minute: Cheltenham created the first chance of the afternoon with only 60 seconds on the clock, and it was a move of real quality which began down the right through Justin Richards. He played in Hayles who whipped it in first time but Alsop's towering header flew a couple of inches over the target.

12: Alsop tested goalkeeper Wayne Brown with an effort from 18 yards although the Bury number one was well-positioned to take the shot with both hands.

17: The home support were willing that first home goal of the season and their side fashioned their first opening of note with 17 minutes on the clock after a purposeful passage of play. The opportunity eventually fell to David Worall 16 yards from goal, but a combined effort by Michael Townsend and Drissa Diallo was enough to guide the shot over the bar for a corner, which came to nothing.

30: Bury went close to breaking their home duck on the half hour mark when Ryan Lowe, one of Allen's summer targets, struck the woodwork. Wayne Brown pumped it up, and the striker reacted quickest to lift it over Scott Brown from 20 yards however it bounced off the top of the bar.

31: Richards narrowly missed the target with a fine solo effort from the corner of this Bury box, while Hayles called Brown in to a smart low stop from 16 yards.

35: Lowe raced on to Richie Baker's threaded ball to shoot wide with ten minutes remaining of the first half.

41: Bury created the next chance, this time Stephen Dawson swivelled and volleyed his strike a foot over after Worrall had created the break with a delivery from the right.

43: The home side finished the first period the stronger side and carved a final opportunity two minutes before the break. Skipper Paul Scott provided the service from the right, but Cheltenham couldn't clear their lines allowing Andy Bishop to fire one into the side netting from a tight angle.

HALF TIME: 0-0

46 SUBSTITUTION: Josh Low replaced Watkins for the second half, taking up a role on the left while Richards continuing on the opposite side.

52 SUBSTITUTION: David Hutton was pressed into action at the expense of Alsop seven minutes after the restart. Richards was pushed up alongside Hayles, with Hutton patrolling the right flank.

53: Lowe drew a terrific stop from Brown only a minute after the substitution when he latched onto a long, downfield ball to smash a half volley on target inside the penalty area.

63 SUBSTITUTION: Hammond became Cheltenham's third and final switch of the afternoon, replacing Artus in the 63rd minute. Richards therefore dropped back to the left side of midfield, with Low taking Bird's right back role. The skipper joined Gallinagh in central midfield.

68 BOOKING/SUBSTITUTION: Worrall was the first player to have his name taken by the referee for a strong challenge on Ridley down the Bury right. The winger was also swapped with Michael Jones moments later.

69: Hutton released a low shot from 12 yards, but Brown dropped to save the effort. At the other end, Dawson's daisycutter and Jones drive failed to trouble Cheltenham's Brown.

81 SUBSTITUTION: Danny Racchi replaced Richie Baker for the final nine minutes of the game.

84: A chance opened up for Gallinagh after Ridley had delivered a long throw from the right touchline. Diallo dived in to meet it, but it spilled loose to the midfielder down the inside left channel and although he struck it cleanly enough, a Bury defender blocked its route to goal.

88: Bury came agonisingly close to their elusive first home goal of the season after Jones had sent in a corner from the Bury left. Skipper Scott met it with a great header att he back post, but Richards got enough on it to divert it over the bar to deny the Shakers in the final stages.

90+3: Brown released Hammond in deep into injury time via a flick on from Richards but the substitute striker blasted the chance to snatch the win.

90+4 GOAL Bury 0-1 Cheltenham Town
Just as it had seemed the game would end in a draw, up popped Hayles to apply a fine finish to hand his side all three points. The frontman raced on to a pass from Hammond as two defenders challenged for the ball leaving a gap in behind., Hayles pushed it past the out-rushing Brown and although the chance seemed to have been lost, the former Fulham man somehow twisted himself to shoot inside the far post from a very tight angle.

FULL TIME: 0-1

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Brown; Bird, Diallo, Townsend, Ridley; Watkins (Low 46), Gallinagh, Artus (Hammond 63), Richards; Alsop (Hutton 52), Hayles. Subs not used: Richardson (Gk), Cox, Lewis, Denton.

BURY (4-4-2): Brown; Scott (c), Sodje, Cresswell, Newey; Worrall (Jones 68), Dawson, Barry-Murphy, Baker (Racchi 81); Lowe, Bishop. Subs not used: Buchanan, Belford (Gk), Rouse, Thompson.

REFEREE: S. Rushton (Staffordshire)`

ATTENDANCE: 2,130 (136 from Cheltenham)

Murry Toms at Gigg Lane