Swindon 3 Bury 1

BURY ended the year on a miserable note with a disappointing defeat at bogey club Swindon.

For some reason Andy Preece's side seem to save their worst displays for matches against the Wiltshire club and this was no exception.

Two goals down inside the first eight minutes, they made the worst possible start and although they hit back midway through the half with a fine goal, they were at it again minutes into the second period when they conceded a sloppy goal from a free kick.

"It was as bad as I've seen us in that first 20 minutes," declared Preece. "We just got totally overrun and were lucky to be only 2-0 down!"

"We got better as the half went on, then scored one hell of a goal but how we could score like that the way we were playing is beyond me."

Both the Robins' early strikes were the result of slack defending when, firstly, following a corner kick, big defender Andy Gurney was allowed time and space in the box to rifle an effort past Kenny.

Then two minutes later Australian Danny Invincible got the better of both Lee Unsworth and Sam Collins to race clear on goal.

Kenny could only partly stop his low drive and Bobby Howe slammed home the loose ball from close range.

The Shakers can argue that the flag kick for the first goal was clearly a goalkick but that didn't mask the fact that they fully deserved to be behind on their performance alone.

Gradually they forced themselves back into the game and were rewarded with a magnificent goal after 25 minutes.

Chris Billy made a powerful run from his own half and spread the ball wide to Unsworth on the right. He made progress down the flank before delivering an inch perfect cross to the back post where the inrushing Jon Newby slid home his fifth of the season.

After ending the half on top the Shakers again shot themselves in the foot five minutes from the restart.

Billy gave away a needless foul on young Swindon substitute Paul McAreavey and from the subsequent free kick, Wayne Carlisle made a mockery of the defensive wall to fire past Kenny into the bottom corner.

Neither side looked like adding to that total for the rest of a lacklustre second half and the Shakers afternoon was complete when Jason Jarrett received his marching orders minutes from time for a foul on Invinsible.

"All I can put it down to is the fact we were missing Steve Redmond today through injury," added Preece.

"But at 34 Redders isn't going to be playing forever and and these lads are going to have to step into his shoes some day.

"Or maybe they are becoming complacent and think because they've been doing so well all they have to do is turn out!"

BURY: Kenny 6, Nelson 6, Swailes 6, Collins 6, Unsworth 6 (Connell, 45, 6), Jarrett 6, Billy 7, Clegg 6, Stuart 6, Newby 7, Seddon 6 (Preece, 67, 6). Subs not used: O'Shaughnessy, Hill, Murphy.

REFEREE: Mr R. Harris (Isle of Wight) ATT: 7,624