BURY scored two late goals but it was not enough to rescue a result as they went down 3-2 at home to Bristol Rovers.

Tom Lockyer put the visitors in front in after the break before Billy Bodin added a brace to all but seal victory.

Rovers were on top for most of the afternoon before Jermaine Beckford and Nicky Ajose netted for the Shakers in time added on at the end of the second half.

But it was too little, too late for the hosts.

Bury registered only eight shots on target, compared to the visitors’ 26 and it was only their late revival that added a veneer of respectability to the scoreline.

Manager Lee Clark made changes to his defence following last Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Wigan, starting with a 5-3-2 formation.

Centre-back Adam Thompson dropped to the bench and was replaced by Burnley loanee Alex Whitmore.

Callum Styles and Nicky Ajose also replaced Zeli Ismail and Chris Maguire in the starting line-up.

The Shakers almost made a dream start when Greg Leigh arrived to meet Craig Jones’ low cross at the back post, but he fell over when trying to connect with the ball.

Bodin then fired a warning at the opposite end, drilling into the side netting from the edge of the box.

It only took 20 minutes of Rovers' pressure before Clark switched to a 4-3-3 formation – pushing Alex Bruce into midfield.

And it worked for a brief time as Harry Bunn tested Sam Slocombe at his near post.

However, the visitors looked dangerous, especially Bodin, who found Tom Nichols free in the box and he brought out a fine save from Joe Murphy.

Moments later the Shakers shot-stopper got his finger-tips to Chris Lines’ fierce effort to push it over the bar.

Whitmore made two excellent blocks on the stroke of half time to ensure the game remained goalless at the break.

Clark made a double change at half time, sending on Chris Humphrey and Tsun Dai for Jones and Styles.

But the visitors struck the opener in the 56th minute when Lockyer thumped a header in off the post from Lee Brown’s corner.

For the last roll of the dice, Clark introduced Ismail in place of Bruce but he struggled to make an impact.

The Pirates doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Bodin beat Leigh in the air to crash home a header from close range.

Murphy then had to make a number of fine saves to keep out Nichols and substitute Rory Gaffney.

The victory was seemingly secured when Bodin turned Tom Aldred in the box and rolled the ball in off the post.

But Beckford pulled a goal back just as the board went up to indicate three minutes of added time, heading in Dai’s corner.

Ajose then opened his account in his third spell at the club, converting Leigh’s low cross with the last kick of the game.