Darlington 3 Bury 1 by John Charlesworth

BURY need a few generals to go with their 'Colonel' if they are not to be overrun in the cavalry charge for Third Division promotion places.

The Shakers earned their stripes in the opening 20 minutes as Lee 'Colonel' Connell's first goal in two years put them on the march for victory.

But for the second time in five days Andy Preece's men could not hold off the enemy and Darlington came back to secure victory with two late goals in the space of three minutes.

Connell's 11th minute strike was firstly cancelled out by on loan striker Jimmy Corbett before Glenn Naylor and skipper Craig Liddle took advantage of some defensive gifts to ease the Quakers' relegation worries.

Connell provided one of the few bright sparks of the afternoon with another solid display after his performance against Oxford United.

Colin Cramb provided the assist for the goal with a pinpoint ball from inside his own half.

Connell timed his run to perfection and slotted the ball under the body of Darlington keeper Andy Collett and into the net.

Not surprisingly Preece was far from pleased with his side's display and blamed a string of defensive errors for the defeat.

Despite the setback Bury have not written off their chances of a quick return to Division Two. But time is running out for Preece to find a winning formula.

"The game was so open but that was as poor as we have defended all season," admitted Preece.

"The whole result stems from the back three not being right from the start of the game.

"In the first half I felt they never looked comfortable, when they have been outstanding in recent weeks.

"Every goal that we concede is a mistake and it is killing us.

"The scoreline doesn't tell the whole story, but it could have been about 12 each.

"However, you go back to previous games and find we are losing because of terrible mistakes.

"We can't hide from the fact and we have to do something about it because it is really hurting us.

"We gave them some life and we didn't finish them off.

"You sit on the bench and you are so hopeless when things like that happen.

"How can you legislate for the way are conceding goals at the minute?"

Bury (3-4-3): Garner; Swailes, Woodthorpe, Nelson; Clegg, Billy, Forrest (Preece 88), Connell; Cramb, Newby, Abbott (Nugent 72). Subs (not used): Stuart, Dunfield, Soley. Referee: Mr A Butler (Nottinghamshire). Attendance: 2,879

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However, Bury were hit by a sucker-punch just nine minutes later after out-of-sorts striker Jon Newby had seen a good effort charged down.

Newby met the ball sweetly enough from George Clegg's whipped in cross from the left, but the home side cleared their lines.

Colin Woodthorpe also went close with a powerful free-kick from 25-yards out but the defender turned was caught out for the equaliser.

Under pressure from Corbett he made a hash of trying to chest down a punted clearance and lost the ball as he lost his footing.

The Darlington player, once a £500,000 buy for Blackburn, raced free and fired past Glynn Garner in the bottom right hand corner.

Pawel Abbott, playing the final game of his second loan spell, couldn't sign off with a goal.

He had a chance after being put through by Danny Swailes, but he couldn't get enough venom on his shot and defender Gary Pearson made a brilliant sliding clearance off his own goal line.

Bury's troubles at the back, however, were only just beginning and Neil Maddison had three glorious chances to give his side the lead.

He glanced a header wide from a Tom Newey corner berfore striking both post and bar after Bury struggled to clear inside their penalty area.

Preece's men had opportunties after the interval but Abbott fired over and Connell went close with a free kick.

Woodthorpe made up for his earlier indiscretion clearing off the line, but eventually Darlington got their just rewards for some concerted pressure.

Second-half substitute Naylor stole in after Garner had dropped the ball and took just once chance to give the home side the lead.

And then when Swailes felled Corbett in the box in injury-time, captain Liddle made sure of the spot-kick as well as the points.

Darlington (5-3-2): Collett; Newey, Pearson, Whitehead, Liddle, Betts; Maddison, Keltie, Nicholls; Mellanby (Naylor 76), Corbett.

Subs (not used): Valentine, Clark, Wainwright, Porter.

Booked: Newey (16)

Goals: Corbett (20), Naylor (87), Liddle (pen 90)

Bury (3-4-3): Garner; Swailes, Woodthorpe, Nelson; Clegg, Billy, Forrest (Preece 88), Connell; Cramb, Newby, Abbott (Nugent 72).

Subs (not used): Stuart, Dunfield, Soley.

Booked: Swailes (90)

Goal: Connell (11)

Referee: Mr A Butler (Nottinghamshire)

Attendance: 2,879

Stats (Bury):

Total shots: 10

Shots on: 6

Shots off: 4

Corners: 4

Free kicks: 12

Offsides: 5

Woodwork: 0

Darlington:

Total shots: 14

Shots on: 9

Shots off: 5

Corners: 8

Free kicks: 12

Offsides: 7

Woodwork: 2