PAUL TISDALE believes Exeter really are back in the big time after Richard Logan’s goal made it three wins in a row.

Grecians returned to league football this season after a five-year absence and are already in the play-off places.

Logan grabbed their seventh- minute lead and high-fliers Bury could not find a way to rescue their own unbeaten record despite dominating the second half.

Boss Tisdale said: “We certainly did it the hard way with a long, long hold-out after an early strike.

“But that’s three wins in a row and we’re certainly finding our feet. We were gritty when we needed to be.”

Logan got in behind David Buchanan to head home after Adam Stansfield had flicked on Jack Obersteller's cross.

Ryan Harley twice went close later on for Exeter but otherwise it was all Bury.

Elliott Bennett tested Paul Jones several times from distance before the Exeter keeper turned away a 20-yarder by Andy Bishop with 15 minutes left.

Shakers subs Glynn Hurst and Richie Baker then went close while Bishop went closest to an equaliser when he fired agonisingly wide late on.

Bury boss Alan Knill said: “We gave them something to hold on to and they did. We just have to take it on the chin and move on.”

BOURNEMOUTH 0, ROTHERHAM 0

JIMMY QUINN is convinced that Bournemouth and Rotherham will escape the drop.

Both clubs started the season with negative equity having been deducted 17 points before a ball was kicked.

Millers have already moved into the black and now have plus two points after a fabulous run of results.

Cherries may be still on minus seven but manager Quinn is confident his side will follow Rotherham up the table.

And this entertaining goalless draw was a credit to the pair.

Quinn said: “I don’t think either team will have a problem staying up.

“Both can play football and have strength in depth.”

GRIMSBY 1, WYCOMBE 1

MIKE NEWELL praised his braveheart Mariners — despite being agonisingly denied a shock win over the leaders.

Leon Johnson rescued the 10-man Wycombe with a 90th-minute header after Peter Bore had fired Grimsby ahead with just 62 seconds gone.

It left Mariners still looking for their first win since August 12.

But Newell, who took over at Blundell Park on Tuesday, insists his men can avoid being whipping boys. The ex-Luton boss said: “If they keep playing like that, confidence will build and results will come.

“I’m disappointed to concede a goal so late — but it was always going to be a long 89 minutes after scoring so early. We were superb.”

Newell was in dreamland inside the first two minutes as Bore poked in Nick Hegarty’s goal-bound effort.

Wycombe’s Tommy Doherty got a straight red for a lunge on James Hunt four minutes from time.

But Peter Taylor’s men held their nerve and Johnson put his head on to the ball to rescue a point.

Rotherham chief Mark Robins was also happy. He insisted: “This is a tough place to come and it’s a great point for us.”

The Yorkshire side have now suffered only one defeat in 14 games, reaching the last eight of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Bournemouth dominated the first half and were unlucky not to go ahead when Danny Holland’s low shot hit a post.

ACCRINGTON 2, BRADFORD 3

JOHN COLEMAN cancelled his 46th birthday bash after sorry Stanley chucked away a two-goal lead.

Bradford scored three times in a stunning final 10 minutes through Michael Boulding, Barry Conlon and top-scorer Peter Thorne to nick the points.

Accrington boss Coleman was so upset he decided to call his wife and ask her to cancel the dinner table they had booked.

The birthday boy said: “I just want to go to bed!

“For 80 minutes we were magnificent — but for 10 minutes we were like a Sunday league team.

“It’s the lowest I have ever felt after a match.”

Bradford sub Conlon has now scored two in his last two games — and was in a much more jovial mood

He said: “Being 2-0 down was always going to be tough to retrieve but the first goal was crucial and suddenly it was game on.”

James Ryan swept in John Miles’ corner from the edge of the box on 23 minutes. And Miles played in Terry Gornell, 18, to score No 2 five minutes into the second half.

Conlon set up Boulding's sweet half-volley on 80 minutes and headed the equaliser after latching on to Paul McLaren's free-kick with three minutes to go.

Joe Colbeck slid in Thorne for the winner — and his ninth goal of the season — a minute later.

Bantams boss Stuart McCall said: “With 15 or 20 minutes left we were all despondent. It was a great comeback.”

But the visitors looked far stronger after the break and ex-England star Darren Anderton nearly sneaked a victory when he fired a 20-yarder against the post three minutes from time.

MACCLESFIELD 4, ALDERSHOT 2

DANNY THOMAS struck twice in four minutes as Macclesfield ran out winners in a thriller that exploded in the second half.

The first period ended scoreless — but a 15-minute spell after the break brought five goals.

Macc went ahead on 48 minutes when Gareth Evans lashed in a drive from 12 yards.

The lead lasted just three minutes before Aldershot’s Kirk Hudson netted a 15-yard volley.

Macc made it 2-1 on 55 minutes when Thomas’ shot went under keeper Nikki Bull. Thomas quickly cut inside to fire home No 3 for the home side.

But Macc had to work hard for the points as Shots got their second on 64 minutes through Danny Hylton.

But Francis Green made it safe with an 83rd-minute header.

GILLINGHAM 5, MORECAMBE 0

GILLINGHAM turned in another five-star display as they made it four home wins on the spin.

A Simeon Jackson double and Mark Bentley’s header rattled poor Morecambe in the first half.

Bentley’s 21st-minute header kicked things off and Jackson’s 20-yarder flashed past keeper Barry Roche just three minutes later.

Jackson got his second on 36 minutes, Nicky Southall made it 4-0 on 72 minutes and sub Mark McCammon netted a fifth 10 minutes from time.

LUTON 1, DARLINGTON 2

GREG BLUNDELL nipped in for a 90th-minute winner to sink Luton.

Darlington went ahead when Billy Clarke flicked in Rob Purdie’s 15th-minute free kick.

Claude Gnakpa levelled by heading home Rossi Jarvis’ cross with 31 minutes gone.

But Mick Harford’s side paid the price for failing to clear a corner as they let in Blundell.

Darlo boss Dave Penney said: “We had to battle and managed to get a chance late on.”

CHESTERFIELD 1, CHESTER 1

BOSS Lee Richardson was under fire again after Chesterfield made it five games without a win.

Frustrated fans called for Richardson to be sacked after Paul Linwood headed Chester into a 17th-minute lead from Ryan Lowe’s curling free kick.

But Jamie Ward levelled in the 59th minute when he drove home Jamie Lowry’s cross.

In a late flurry Chester’s Mark Hughes saw his goalbound shot deflected over and Jack Lester almost sneaked in at the far post for the home side.

SHREWSBURY 1, PORT VALE 2

CAPTAIN Marc Richards wrecked Shrewsbury’s 100 per cent home record by poaching the winner for Port Vale six minutes into injury time.

Shrews thought they had rescued a point as sub Michael Symes struck on 89 minutes to cancel out Louis Dodds’ 19th-minute opener.

Vale had Lee Collins sent off in added time — but Shrews were caught cold as Richards flicked the ball home before colliding with Luke Daniels, who suffered a facial injury.