Bristol Rovers 1 Bury 2: GLENN Whelan put his forthcoming international commitments behind him to turn in an outstanding performance as Bury grabbed all three points at the Memorial Ground.

It would have been easy for the on-loan Manchester City midfielder to go through the motions in his final game for the Shakers before jetting off to the FIFA World under-20s championships.

After all, he did not want injury to ruin his chances of playing for the Republic of Ireland in the United Arab Emirates.

But Whelan's energy and drive kept Bury in the match before goals from Danny Swailes and Joe O'Neill snatched the points.

And the good news for Shakers fans is that Whelan wants to return to Gigg Lane once his Middle East adventure is over.

"I don't know how long I'm going to be away," said the teenage Dubliner. "But when I come back I know the club are interested in bringing me back. And I'd love to come back.

"It was a great result and it just shows the lads give 110 per cent every game."

Manager Andy Preece was delighted by the young Irishman's contribution, especially in the absences of Paul O'Shaughnessy and Terry Dunfield.

Preece also spoke of his delight at winning a game that could so easily have ended in defeat.

"We have words written in the dressing room that tell us it's all about ability, fitness and ruthlessness. We wanted to go and win it."

It was Bury's first ever victory at Rovers and Preece added: "We know what a tough place this is to come and win a game of football.

Confusion reigned over the identity of Bury's first goalscorer with Preece initially awarded his seventh of the season.

But he was happy to reveal the name of the real scorer.

"It was a near post corner, I managed to get across and put the defender off and the big long leg of Danny Swailes stuck it in."

Bury's winner came in the fourth minute of stoppage time with O'Neill turning the ball in from close range after Preece had flicked on.

The win was the fourth time this season Bury have come back to win from a goal down.

They conceded a goal just five minutes into the second period. Swailes and O'Neill hesitated over a loose ball, Ijah Anderson seized the initiative and played in Lewis Halbane, who from 25 yards cracked in a superb goal.

Match facts:

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2):

Miller; Parker, Barrett, Edwards, Anderson; Carlisle, Savage, Hyde, Williams; Tait, Haldane; Subs (not used): Boxall, Austin, Quinn, Gilroy, Clarke.

Bury: Garner 7; Swailes 8, Duxbury 7, Gulliver 7; Unsworth 7, Connell 6, Whelan 9, Porter 6 (Whaley 82), O'Neill 6, Preece 7; subs not used: Barrass, Nugent, Gunby, Kennedy.

Attendance: 7019

Referee: Frazer Stretton