BURY boss David Flitcroft believes his side have grown from boys to men since their last defeat at Greenhous Meadow, but they still left with the same number of points on Saturday.

A goal in each half from Sullay Kaikai and Abu Ogogo proved enough for Micky Mellon’s side to claim a 2-0 win - only their third home victory of the season - and condemn the Shakers to back-to-back defeats on the road.

It was almost a year to the day that Shrewsbury swept Bury aside on their way to a 5-0 victory.

That humiliation convinced Flitcroft to reshape his squad and after both sides went on to secure promotion they met again on Saturday with Bury 10 points better off in League One.

Despite the end result, it was the away side that dominated possession and territory.

But while the Shakers were unable to transfer that into clear-cut chances, Shrewsbury converted two of their three opportunities on goal.

“Last year, we came here and got absolutely smacked and that one hurt,” said Flitcroft in his post-match press conference.

“That was a tough night. Today wasn’t a tough one, I’ve seen the club progress.

“Certainly the last time we came here, we got squashed. We looked like little boys last season when we turned up here, and that for me was the catalyst for us doing well last season as I realised I got my recruitment wrong.

“We couldn’t get anywhere near Shrewsbury (that night), but today – for me – it was a different story.

“We’ve created more than enough good chances, but all credit to Shrewsbury the way they’ve thrown themselves at things and put blocks on.

“I think we’ve had something like 15 corners and 13 shots on goal, so we’ve tried to create here and given an account of ourselves.

“Take the two goals out of the game and we’ve certainly progressed.”

That progression, however, is being undermined.

After suffering a first away defeat in 18 matches in midweek, Bury went into the game not just with injured pride but also a growing list of casualties.

Midfielders Craig Jones and Danny Pugh joined Andrew Tutte and Kelvin Etuhu on the treatment table.

And after packing off striker-cum-winger Hallam Hope on loan to Carlisle, Flitcroft was forced to hand a start to new signing Chris Eagles on the right of midfield, despite admitting the former Bolton Wanderers wide man was “miles off” full match fitness.

Possibly even more unsettling was the injury to Rob Lainton, whose loan replacement Aaron McCarey met his new team-mates for the first time in the dressing room before kick off.

Despite the upheaval, Bury could and probably should have left Greenhous Meadow with all three points.

Danny Mayor in full flow gave Shrewsbury right wing-back Matt Tootle a torrid time, helping to press the home side back while also putting fit-again Chris Hussey in behind their defence on numerous occasions.

Yet Bury were unable to translate good positions in the final third into clear-cut chances.

“Obviously I’m disappointed,” Flitcroft added. “I’m really happy with how we moved the ball and created opportunities, but I am really disappointed with our last bit and that’s the most important bit in any game of football.

“It’s no good dominating possession if you can’t convert.

“To come here and not convert is disappointing, but again we’ll keep working on that and working on that final pass into the box and final contact because that’s absolutely vital that we get that right.”

Leon Clarke had the ball in the back of the net in the 15th minute but his header was ruled out for a push in the back of marker Zak Whitbread.

At that point it looked a matter of when rather than if Bury would score, but Kaikai served warning at the other end with a volley that hit the post on 24 minutes.

It was not heeded as the midfielder was given time and space to drift in from the right to drill a shot under McCarey’s dive four minutes later.

Mayor continued to lead the Shrewsbury defence a merry dance for the remainder of the half but Bury only had a blocked volley from Eagles and a stinging shot well saved from Reece Brown to show for their efforts at the break.

Shrewsbury lost some of their threat after Kaikai limped off early in the second half while Cameron headed Bury’s best chance wide from a corner and Mayor had a good low shot saved by Jayson Leutwiler.

A tiring Eagles was withdrawn as Flitcroft put on strikers Tom Pope and Danny Rose but Bury never looked like getting back into the game after Ogogo’s scissor-kick from just inside the box flew into the top corner on 73 minutes, seemingly through the hands of McCarey.

And worse was to come in the final 10 minutes when Cameron limped off the pitch after twisting his knee.

The defeat extended Bury's winless run to five matches in all competitions as they fell one place in the table to seventh, now seven points behind league leaders Gillingham.

BURY (4-1-4-1): McCarey 5; Riley 6, Cameron 6 (Mohammed 84), P Clarke 6, Hussey 7; R Brown 7 (Rose 6 60); Eagles 5 (Pope 6 50), Soares 6, Mellis 6, Mayor 8; L Clarke 6.

Not used: Ruddy, Sedgwick, Burgess, Dudley.

SHREWSBURY TOWN (3-5-2): Leutwiler; Smith, Whitbread, Knight-Percival; Tootle (Gerrard 69), Lawrence, Ogogo, Cole (Collins 73), J Brown; Kaikai (Akpa Akpro 46), Barnett.

Not used: Rowley, Sadler, McAlinden, Clark.

Scorers: Shrewsbury – Kaikai 28, Ogogo 73.

Yellow cards: Shrewsbury Town - Knight-Percival 58. Bury – R Brown 59, Mellis 72.

Referee: Gavin Ward Attendance: 4,945 (visiting 525).

Star man: Danny Mayor – When the winger is in this kind of mood he looks completely unplayable, but the fact Bury have been unable to capitalise on his sparkling form must be a real source of frustration for David Flitcroft. Mayor is due a goal himself and was unlucky not to score, but it is the space and time he creates for those around him that make him such a dangerous weapon.