Bury 0, Rushden and Diamonds 1: SHAKERS paid for their lack of killer instinct as Diamonds staged a smash and grab raid at Gigg Lane.

Despite dominating posession for most of the game, the combination of a poor final pass and a failure to attack the balls which did make it into the box ensured Bury would finish goalless for the fourth match running.

This was an energetic performance from Bury, full of crisp creative passing and boundless defensive enthusiasm.

David Nugent and Jon Newby made life hell for their respective full-backs while the returning Pawel Abbott fought for every ball and launched himself into every bustling goalward charge as though he was making his mark on a new two-year stay, rather than a two-week stop gap.

And it was Abbott who had the best of the first half chances, latching on to Nugent's bullish stampede and cross from the left flank to draw the ball splendidly away from the defence with an immaculate dummy, before forcing a magnificent save from Diamonds 'keeper Billy Turley.

Nugent, Martyn Forrest, Danny Swailes and Lee Connell all had decent chances to break the deadlock but, while their attack threatened, their back line looked decidedly unstable for most of the game.

Though Colin Woodthorpe was imperious at the heart of the centre back trio, there were too many moments of indicision from his team-mates and 'keeper Glyn Garner was forced to pull off a string of fine saves to keep his side in the game.

Finally they cracked after 69minutes when an innoccuous long ball caused all manner of problems for Michael Nelson, whose weak backheader allowed Duane Darby to beat Garner to the ball and find the back of an embarrassingly empty net.

Form guide -- Bury: Garner 7, Stuart 7, Swailes 6, Nelson 6, Woodthorpe 8, Connell 8, Clegg 7, Forrest 7, Newby 8, Nugent 8, Abbott 8. Subs used: Cramb (for Nelson 80) 6. Not used: Preece, Dunfield, O'Shaughnessy, Unsworth. Referee: Paul Robinson (Hull). Attendance: 2,291.