SHAKERS 0, MANSFIELD TOWN 2: In the week that they announce an initiative to fill their Gigg Lane ground on Good Friday, trust the Shakers to put in a performance that's more likely to empty it.

Talk about bad timing!

It wasn't so much the fact that Graham Barrow's men slumped to their fifth home defeat of the campaign, more the manner in which they went down.

True enough, Mansfield, who hardly looked world-beaters themselves, bagged both their goals on the break.

But for the whole 90 minutes Bury looked disjointed, bereft of ideas and failed to carve out a clear-cut opening.

Put bluntly, it was a weary display, and one that will have everyone connected with the club peering over their shoulders at Cambridge United and Kidderminster Harriers in the division's relegation places.

The sooner the likes of injured duo Dwayne Mattis and Chris Porter are back in contention the better as their teammates don't seem able to buy a goal at Gigg Lane.

Yet, after the previous week's battling two-goal comeback at Boston there was plenty of optimism going into Saturday's game, with last week's catalyst, Bas Savage, making his home debut.

But the big Reading striker, on loan for a month, looked a shadow of the player that did so well in Lincolnshire seven days earlier, although, to be fair, he wasn't on his own in the underachievement stakes.

The only way the home side seemed likely to score was via a set-piece move, but time after time they managed to squander even those opportunities, with twelve corner kicks finding Mansfield defenders or goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington on almost every occasion.

Perversely, it was following a Shakers' corner that that visitors took the lead through a quality 38th minute goal that was completely out of place in the grim spectacle.

When Brian Barry-Murphy's right wing flag kick found the grateful arms of Pilkington, the former Manchester United trainee quickly delivered the ball to Gareth Jelleyman.

He, in turn, fed Adam Rundle just inside the Bury half, who launched a superb crossfield ball into the path of Adam Murray.

Murray raced into the penalty area before unleashing a marvellous half volley across Andy Marriott for his fifth goal of the season.

Prior to Murray's strike both Fraser McLachlan and Richie Barker had squandered free headers, while the Shakers' best effort was a 25-yard shot from Dave Flitcroft that flew just wide.

Midway though the half there was a tactical change when defender Colin Woodthorpe was sacrificed for midfielder Simon Whaley as the team reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

However, although the switch stemmed the Stags' options down the left it didn't ignite the Shakers' own attacking aspirations.

A half-time dressing down had only a minimal effect as they failed to step up a gear. All they had to show for their second half efforts was a 53rd minute goalmouth scramble that on another day may have given them a lifeline.

But on this occasion even that almost resulted in a Mansfield goal as the visitors broke quickly and Marriott had to be alert to save an 18-yard effort from Murray.

Jon Newby worked hard up front all afternoon but all too often found himself crowded out as Town warmed to their task.

In the 79th minute Barker found himself through on goal following a long clearance by Pilkington, but Marriott bravely smothered at his feet.

But the travelling fans in the Manchester Road End didn't have long to wait for their club's second and killer strike, as it arrived two minutes later.

Barker took possession on the right then drilled the ball into the box where Murray flicked it into the path of Rundle who slid home at the far post, despite looking yards offside.

"There's no excuses, that was the worst display we've put in for a while," admitted Barrow.

"We know what we've got to do to put it right and we will. I can accept defeat but it is how you lose and I was not happy with that.

"Too many players had off-days and were lethargic. We've played better against better sides and that's a big disappointment.

"But we've got to keep plugging away, it was a bad day but if we use it the right way it could be a turning point."

PHIL THORP