BURY old boy David Worrall made an emotional return to ruin his former side's promotion party in front of the biggest crowd at the JD Stadium in 18 years.

Almost 8,400 people took advantage of chairman Stewart Day’s offer of free entry after the original fixture was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.

But this time it was Worrall - playing his first match since the death of his son - who put a dampener on the occasion as the second-half substitute curled in a superb free kick to steal all three points.

The result saw Southend leapfrog Bury and move level with third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, leaving the Shakers two points outside the automatic promotion places with two games remaining.

Bury did everything but give the impressive home support a goal to cheer in the opening 45 minutes.

Chris Hussey and League Two player of the year Danny Mayor combined brilliantly to rain in the crosses from the left but a Shrimpers defence that had not conceded for six consecutive matches stood firm.

Ryan Lowe had the first shot on goal, benefiting from an intelligent ball inside from Hussey but his effort was charged down, while Andrew Tutte blazed over.

Will Atkinson spotted the danger early on and the Southend midfielder was rightly booked in the 11th minute for a sliding tackle on Hussey.

That forced the left-back’s marker to back off and the space opened up for him.

Bury captain Nathan Cameron came closest to scoring with a header from a Hussey corner that whistled just the wrong side of the post.

Mayor was the next to benefit from a clever pull-back from the Bury defender, picking up the ball inside the box but the Shrimpers defenders scrambled to deflect his shot wide. 

And Tom Soares had the final effort of the half, again just missing the target with a back-post header from a Hussey cross.

The only concern was that Bury would rue their failure to score when on top, and so it proved.

Southend striker Jake Cassidy served warning after the break with a glancing header that drifted just past the far post.

But Mayor quickly responded with a deflected shot that had Shrimpers keeper Daniel Bentley back-peddling. 

Bentley then had to be on his toes to get down and palm away a low Danny Nardiello drive.

Southend boss Phil Brown was the first to chance his arm, throwing on Worrall and Jack Payne in the 55th minute.

The changes had the desired effect as the visitors started to make advances upfield.

Gary Deegan tested Bury stopper Nick Pope with a long-range effort and Worrall used his speed to good effect down the left.

Bury’s players seemed to tire as Southend started to play the ball around with more confidence and Cameron was forced into a lunge to stop the run of substitute Jack Payne.

The Shakers skipper was booked and Worrall stood up to drive the dagger home, placing his 25-yard strike into the top corner in ther 74th minute.

It capped a difficult night for the former Bury midfielder, returning after five weeks out following the death of his son, Noah, who died after being born prematurely.

David Flitcroft went for broke, ending the match with more forwards than defenders on the pitch after introducing Tom Eaves, Danny Rose and winger Craig Jones in search of the equaliser.

Rose had a good run into the box that was checked by a defensive blitz, and Cameron and Lowe somehow between them failed to test the keeper at the death when clear on goal.

But after a fantastic night turned sour, Bury's chances of automatic promotion are now no longer in hands.