Shakers 0, Wrexham 1: SOMEWHERE along the way between the shock victory against Peterborough United and this disappointing defeat, something has gone wrong for the Shakers - and it is threatening to undo all their hard work.
Taking Jim Provett's awful error of judgement out of the equation, this was a night where several of Chris Casper's players came up short on the quality stakes, making you wonder whether the efforts put in over recent months are finally starting to take their toll.
A Wrexham side who had won only once on their travels before Tuesday night put in a display which made a mockery of their lowly league status but if the Shakers are to hold any ambition of still being around the top half in January, these are the type of tests they will have to start passing.
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The ball was surrendered in untypically wanton fashion throughout, and though the defence was rarely over-run, it was the Shakers' lack of attacking nous which proved most surprising.
It was the first time they had failed to score since September - and though they got through the tough FA Cup tie against Exeter on Saturday, it is now three games since the side were really firing on all cylinders.
None of this was lost on Chris Casper, who admitted he had to go away and count to 10 before marching up the Main Stand stairs to explain his side's performance to the waiting press.
"We just weren't good enough, and I have a squad which is big enough now to mean I can make changes for Saturday," said the manager with one eye on the trip to Mansfield Town this weekend.
"I'll have to go away and look at it when I have calmed down, but ultimately it was a very disappointing performance."
The Bury boss was reluctant to lay the blame at the feet of his goalkeeper after his 31st minute error.
"I have stood here many times and commented on how well Jim has played," Casper said.
"That kind of thing probably only happens once or twice in your career, but I think Jim has put enough in the bank for us to forgive that one."
To say their winning goal was gift-wrapped is something of an understatement, albeit a clichéd one at this time of year. Provett's charge towards Richard Hope's long clearance was so mistimed, Eifion Williams could barely believe his luck as he jogged through to head into the empty net. But what the footballing gods giveth, they also taketh away, as the former Liverpool trainee pulled up with an injury before he had even had time to celebrate.
The goal arrived at a time when Bury had just started to make some inroads in what proved to be an impressive Wrexham defence. Paul Scott's header from Nicky Adams' excellent cross was the best chance they manufactured in the first 45 minutes - but they badly lost rhythm on the back of Provett's error
Andy Parrish went close at the far post, only to be denied by an excellent challenge from young full-back, Wes Baynes, who showed promise in only his second appearance for Wrexham.
Bury looked better in possession after the break, but still struggled to test former Gigg Lane custodian, Anthony Williams.
Bishop should have done just that on 64 minutes, but another well-timed intervention from Baynes prevented him from steering Parrish's cross into the net from six yards out.
The Shakers striker had cut a lonely figure with free-spirit Adams alongside him in attack, but he would soon be joined by nigh-on every striker at Casper's disposal.
There was time for Bishop to carve out one more solo chance, though, as another freakish bounce eluded Williams, only for the eight-goal striker to find the angle too tight to get a shot at goal.
Liam Hughes, Andy Mangan and Glynn Hurst all entered from the bench, and at one point, even big Ben Futcher had joined what was by then a six-man attack.
But the supply line for a route back into the game simply wasn't there, and it was Wrexham who should have scored a second when Mark Williams somehow conspired to head straight at Provett from point blank range.
A worrying blip for Bury, but more worrying still is the fact that Casper's normally reliable lieutenants are the ones who seem most vulnerable at the present moment.
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