Bury Sport
'The Shop' hails fellow frontmen
6:30pm Thursday 16th February 2012
LENELL John-Lewis has hailed the forwards’ alliance at Gigg Lane, which he believes has helped make him a more potent threat in front of goal.
The 22-year-old striker was celebrating this week after signing an 18-month extension to his contract, with an incentive-based option for a further year.
John-Lewis came of the bench with David Worrall in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Chesterfield, igniting a second-half fightback after Bury old boy Nicky Ajose had given the visitors a half-time lead.
With Richie Barker’s men not having played for two weeks, it was apparent they needed an injection of energy to get back into the game, and that was provided by the duo with John-Lewis seeing shots deflected wide of the target from Worrall’s assists and bringing an outstanding save out of keeper Tommy Lee.
In the end, it was from his hopeful overhead kick that skipper Steven Schumacher bagged the equaliser a minute from time.
John-Lewis has been taken to the hearts of the Bury faithful, scoring four goals predominently from the bench and providing a useful Plan B for Barker – himself a former striker. And it is the influence of the manager and strike partner Andy Bishop that he believes has helped improve his game.
“I watch Bish all the time, in training and everything,” said the player, nicknamed The Shop.
“He’s a great finisher with that predatory instinct in the box. I’m just trying to learn from him.
“It’s the same with the boss. The fact that he’s been a striker is helping me learn and improve. I feel confident and the goals have been coming and I’m delighted that the gaffer and the board have given me a reward for doing well with a contract.”