Bury were comprehensively beaten 3-0 away at ten man Witton Albion in what must go down as one of the worst days of Bury’s season so far.

Inconsistent performances and results over the past few weeks have plagued the club and left them struggling to keep pace with the title challengers. This latest setback in the manner and magnitude of the defeat seems the most gutting of all.

There were two changes to the Bury team that won in midweek. Oscar Threlkeld was absent and replaced in the middle by Regan Riley while Gavin Massey made his return from a month out injured and went straight into the starting eleven at the expense of Tyler James. On the bench alongside James was DJ Pedro returning from suspension and new arrival Leo Graham.

The match started well enough for the Shakers both Rustam Stepans and Kai Evans tested the home keeper Cameron Terry and the visitors were earning early corners that they had been so effective against Darlaston in midweek.

Gradually, however, the attacking impetus faded. Though Bury could win the ball and build an attack, the final ball eluded them. With Massey playing at centre forward, he would often drift back, leaving few options for the Shakers to attack with and rarely did anyone manage to burst into the Witton box.

Witton Albion in response, started to put Bury under pressure. They had already tested Mitch Allen in the Bury goal with a Freddy Garbutt header over the bar and a Tom Hoyle shot that Allen saved well.

The Shakers' defence looked disjointed and out of sorts. They lost the ball often and cheaply, from one such incident, Hoyle shot off target, having won an interception before Joe Duckworth went even closer. He beat Allen with a shot from range, the ball crept towards the open goal but hit the post and ran along the goal line. Louis Isherwood was first there to clear it off the line.

Just as the safety of the half-time break loomed to give Bury some respite, the hosts took the lead. From a Witton free-kick the referee spotted a push in the box and awarded Albion a penalty. Former Shaker Duckworth stepped up to take it. His initial effort was well saved by Allen, but Duckworth reacted fastest to the rebound, heading it into the bottom corner.

Bury now chasing the match looked to grab a quick equaliser. DJ Pedro was brought on and returned to his place in the attack. In the opening minutes, the Shakers showed glimpses of promise. Glynn setting up Massey to shoot, his effort grazed the outside of the near post.

Whatever might have been building in the Bury attack was quickly undone. The home side won a corner, and at the far post, Garbutt rose high above the rest of the pack to head home Albion’s second of the match.

Bury looked to respond immediately and could have claimed a goal back when Pedro broke free on goal. As he tried to round the keeper, he was brought down by Terry, and a penalty was awarded. Kieran Glynn was left with the spot kick, but Terry guessed right, palming his save out for a corner.

Bury had to throw everything at grabbing the next goal. Tyler James and Leo Graham were added to the mix but the service remained poor. The Shakers could not break down the home defence often trying to beat Terry with shots outside the box from Graham, Bebeto Gomes, Glynn and Massey all of which he comfortably managed. The struggling away side also tried to get round the defence, Gomes and Glynn both getting to the byline but neither could find a man in yellow when they got there.

They might have had a chance to gain the upper hand, Witton had a man sent off. Ben Dufton-Kelly scythed down Massey as he made a rare breakthrough on goal. The red card was pulled out, but the free kick was squandered.

The crushing blow came with around ten minutes to play, the Bury defence again lost the ball in their own half and could not win it back, allowing a passing move to flow through and be finished off by Joel Bembo Leta. It belied the one-man advantage Bury had and summed up their wretched day. Despite the opportunities they had, nothing went right. When the final whistle came it arrived like mercy for the few Bury fans left that had stayed for the whole ordeal.