BURY remain just outside the League Two play-off places despite hanging on for victory at managerless Cheltenham Town.

The Shakers looked set to boost their goal difference after claiming two early goals against the relegation threatened side.

Danny Mayor was allowed the freedom of Whaddon Road to run at the Robins defence before planting a low strike into the bottom corner in the fourth minute.

And his namesake Danny Rose bundled in a low Danny Nardiello cross in the 17th minute to put the Shakers well in control.

But Cheltenham, playing their first match under caretaker boss Russ Milton following the sacking of Paul Buckle yesterday, were offered a lifeline in the 24th minute that striker Denny Johnstone duly converted.

Wes Burns put the front man in after robbing the ball from Bury centre-back Jim McNulty, who was sold short by an under-hit pass from Chris Hussey.

The Robins were unable to take advantage of a muted Bury performance, with David Flitcroft’s men denying them a real sniff of goal without creating anything of their own for the remainder of the game.

Defeat saw Cheltenham drop into the relegation zone while Bury remain in eighth, level on point with seventh-placed Plymouth but outside the play-off places on goal difference.

CHELTENHAM: Carson; Vaughan, Taylor, Brown, Braham-Barrett; Burns, Matt Richards, Ferdinand (Hanks 77), Kotwica (Sterling-James 62); Eliot Richards, Johnstone (Manset 83).

Not used: Williams, Berry, Jones, Reynolds.

BURY: Pope; Riley, Cameron, McNulty, Hussey; Adams, Etuhu, Tutte (Sedgwick 68), Mayor (Hope 86); Rose, Nardiello (Jones 76).

Not used: O'Brien, Lainton, Burgess.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Attendance: 2,375 (213 visiting).