Shrewsbury 2 Bury 2: AS an object lesson in shooting yourself in the foot this Bury display could hardly have been bettered.

Two goals up with twenty minutes remaining Graham Barrow's men won't have a more gilt-edge chance of laying the Shakers' 27 year bogey of not having won at Gay Meadow.

They totally dominated proceedings only to let the home side off the hook with two pieces of sloppy set piece defending.

And it could have been worse but for Town substitute Sam Aiston being sent off 12 minutes from time by referee Darren Drysdale for a crude two-footed lunge on Tom Kennedy.

The deadlock was broken after 15 minutes when Flitcroft's corner from the left was met superbly by Dwayne Mattis whose glancing header crept inside the post for his third goal of the season.

Mattis's midfield partner Brian Barry-Murphy almost added a second just before the break with a fine volley after good approach play by Flitcroft and Porter.

A two-goal half-time lead would have been well deserved such was the Shakers' superiority, and just to prove the point they doubled their account nine minutes after the restart.

Again, man-of-the-match Mattis was involved, picking up the ball and racing into the box past two defenders before cutting it back for Dave Nugent who made no mistake from six yards.

Firmly in control, it seemed just a matter of whether or not Barrow's side would add to their lead.

But, sickeningly, defensive frailties turned up again to spoil a good day's work.

In the 70th minute, Barrass challenged tricky winger McGrath on the touchline, and when the Irish Under-21 international went to ground he was awarded a free-kick by Mr Drysdale.

McGrath then delivered a fine ball into the danger zone which was met by unmarked Shrews full-back Darren Moss who headed powerfully home.

Seven minutes later the Shakers misery was complete when Danny Swailes unwittingly directed a corner from McGrath past Garner from close range.

The home side had their tails up by then only for Aiston's dismissal to take the wind out of their sails.

As the Shakers, belatedly, began to turn the screw again, substitute Jon Newby saw an effort fly over the bar while Mattis was desperately unlucky to see a fine goalbound header superbly saved by Scott Howie.

"I'm absolutely gutted, we were magnificent for three-quarters of the game," said Barrow.

"They weren't in the same league as us but we've paid the price for taking our foot off the gas."

BURY FORM GUIDE

BURY TEAM: Garner 6, Barrass 6, Kennedy 6, Swailes 7, Challinor 7, Scott 7, Mattis 9, Flitcroft 7, Barry-Murphy 7 (Newby 84), Nugent 7, Porter 6. Not used: Unsworth, Woodthorpe, Whaley and Smith.

REFEREE: Mr D Drysdale

ATTENDANCE: 3,801