Bury 1 Carlisle Utd 3 by Phil Thorp: IF ever a result should act as a wake-up call to a club this is it.

Carlisle deservedly went back up the M6 with three Boxing Day points after a disastrous second half showing from the Shakers.

It was a sixth successive defeat for the Gigg Lane men who were put to the sword by former player-boss Andy Preece, who laid on two of the goals.

For the Cumbrians, who reneged on a gentleman's agreement not to play Preece after his registration was transferred between the clubs last week, the victory was the first on their travels all season. But you would not have bet that would be the outcome in the first half when Bury played some decent football.

And it was looking good when they controversially took the lead after 30 minutes when Chris Porter scored from the penalty spot after Paul Raven was adjudged to have upended the young striker in the box.

The Carlisle man looked to have taken the ball cleanly before Porter tumbled to the ground but referee Martin Atkinson saw it differently.

With the club's usual spot kick expert wearing the colours of the opposition, Porter calmly fired home to take him clear at the top of the Shakers scoring charts with seven goals.

Four minutes from the interval the Cumbrians drew level when Kevin Gray rose unmarked to head home a Brendan McGill corner kick.The visitors were back in the game when they should have been dead and buried.

Roared on by a sizeable travelling contingent they went in front after 57 minutes when Preece whipped in a fine cross from the left and McGill was on hand to steer the ball past Garner from close range. Twelve minutes later he was at it again drilling the ball into the danger area from the same spot but this time substitute Kevin Henderson was on hand to add the finishing touch.

Eleven minutes from time Preece left the field to a rousing ovation from Carlisle and Bury fans alike but it was noticeable that he hardly showed any emotion at any of his side's goals.

Seddon had another chance to find the net ten minutes from time when Porter challenged Glennon for a long ball but with the keeper well out of position his chip into an open goal went wide.

Then, two minutes later, substitute Lee Connell also saw a header drift wide of the post when well placed.

"I'm gutted after the start we had," said Bury caretaker boss Graham Barrow.

"I just hope it sends alarm bells ringing because they are certainly ringing in my head.

"It's a serious situation we are in and there is no magic wand.

"Even when we were winning games a few weeks ago things weren't right.

"All the players have been tried and it doesn't take a genius to see that it's not good enough."

Whether Barrow will be allowed to add to the squad via the loan system remains to be seen. But if the answer is no then it promises to be a long, hard final half of the season that could end in the unthinkable.

BURY FORMGUIDE:

Garner 6, Barrass 6 (Clegg 63, 6), Woodthorpe 6, Swailes 5, Unsworth 6, O'Neill 6 (Seddon 8, 5), Porter 6, O'Shaughnessy 6, Dunfield 6 (Connell, 63, 6), Kennedy 6, Whelan 7. Subs not used: Thompson and Duxbury.

REFEREE: Mr M. Atkinson (West Yorks)

ATTENDANCE: 3,345