BURY’S search for a maiden victory in League One continues after Fleetwood Town twice came from behind to inflict their first defeat of the campaign.

Ricardo Vaz Te took his place in the directors’ box alongside Bury’s head of football operations Chris Brass before kick-off, sparking rumours of an impending signing.

But while the former Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and West Ham striker would no doubt be another welcome addition to the Shakers’ strike force, the defence remains the area in most need of attention by last night’s evidence.

First-half goals from Bury’s Leon Clarke and Tom Soares were cancelled out by Conor McLaughlin and Tyler Hornby-Forbes.

Jamie Procter and Antoni Sarcevic then put the visitors 4-2 up in the second half before substitute Danny Rose scored what turned out to be a consolation for the Shakers.

The home side looked like they could score at will after Leon Clarke's fifth-minute opener, the big striker outmuscling centre-back Stephen Jordan to get on the end of a Tom Pope flick-on before lifting the ball over Fleetwood keeper Chris Maxwell for his fourth in four games.

But at the other end Bury were all at sea as the Cod Army forced eight corners in quick succession before McLaughlin finally found the net with a header in the 17th minute.

The equaliser sparked a frenetic period of play as Danny Mayor had a tap-in ruled out for offside in the 18th-minute before Soares slammed home a Pope knockdown from close range 60 seconds later.

The end-to-end attacks continued as Fleetwood striker David Ball dragged a shot wide when he had a clear sight of goal on 22 minutes before Bury captain Nathan Cameron shaved the angle of post and bar with a header from a Hussey corner on 24 minutes.

And Graham Alexander’s visitors were level again before the half hour as Walton flapped at a low cross from left wing-back Amari’i Bell and Tyler-Forbes slotted in the loose ball at the back post.

Neither dressing room will have been for the faint-hearted at half time and both sides came out in a mood to continue the slugfest.

Leon Clarke and the Fleetwood keeper earned a booking apiece for their part in a display of handbags after the restart, but rather than lighting the touchpaper the two sides backed off and the game went into a lull.

But a missed pass by Kelvin Etuhu sparked the game back into life in the 69th minute and when Andrew Tutte failed to stop Sarcevic putting the ball in from the byline Procter was on hand to tap in and put Fleetwood in front.

Bury’s chances of a revival looked to have been snubbed out on 82 minutes when Sarcevic put Fleetwood two goals in front from the spot after Cameron barged over Lyle Della Verde in the box.

Substitute Rose had different ideas though, scrambling in Bury’s third goal on the line six minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish that never really materialised.

BURY (4-4-2): Walton 5, Riley 5, Cameron 5, P Clarke 5, Hussey 6; Soares 8, Etuhu 6, Mayor 6, Tutte 6; Pope 7 L Clarke 7.

Subs: Mellis 6 (for Soares 73), Rose 7 (for Pope 80). Not used: Rob Lainton, Hallam Hope, Chris Sedgwick, Danny Pugh, Reece Brown.

FLEETWOOD TOWN (3-5-2): Maxwell; McLaughlin, Jordan, Andrew; Hornby-Forbes, Della Verde, Ryan, Sarcevic, Bell; Procter, Ball.

Subs: Matt (for Ball 85). Not used: Arestidou, Grant, McManus, Cartwright, Haughton, Sowerby.

Referee: James Adcock.

Att: 2,992 (270 visiting).