CHERRIES manager Sean O'Driscoll has congratulated his side for "as professional a job we have done all season" following their 1-0 win over Bury at Dean Court.

Jermain Defoe grabbed the 22nd minute winner, but O'Driscoll was at pains to point out it was an all-round team performance that had secured them victory.

The three points Cherries picked up lifted their tally to 51, one more than the target the manager had set his side to avoid relegation this season.

And they still have nine Nationwide League Division Two games to go in which to build on that figure.

O'Driscoll said: "I think we were excellent against Bury, especially as they came here on the back of a good run.

"They are a physical side but apart from one or two incidents, we dealt with them comfortably at the back in the first half.

"After that, I don't think they broke us down once and the only pity is we didn't score any more goals ourselves.

"If we had scored a few more they would have been contenders for goal of the season."

O'Driscoll, whose side moved up two places to 10th in the table following their seventh home league win this season, added: "It was a very good all-round performance.

"Sometimes you beat sides but not everyone has played their part. But everyone, defence, midfield and forwards, all did their separate jobs against Bury."

Shakers player-manager Andy Preece said: "For the opening 20 minutes we were much the better side and Jon Newby had three really good chances.

"With his run of five goals in 10 games I would have expected him to take one, maybe two, of them.

"I thought we were unlucky when we had a goal ruled out when it was still 0-0 after Jon had crossed and Chris Swailes ran in at the far post to prod home.

"The linesman said he was two yards offside but I wouldn't be so sure he could be two yards offside because there wasn't enough room.

"However, we needed to score a goal when we were on top and we didn't.

"We were poor for the next 70 minutes and didn't deserve to get anything out of the game."

O'Driscoll is unlikely to field any new triallists during Cherries' visit to Avon Insurance Combination rivals Crystal Palace tomorrow.

However, new loan signing Warren Feeney will definitely line up for Cherries at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre (7.30pm).

Feeney made a brief substitute appearance during Saturday's 1-0 win over Bury and will partner Chukki Eribenne against the Eagles.

Former Cherries youth team striker Matt Tubbs has won a two-year scholarship with Bolton Wanderers.