KIDDERMINSTER 3, SHAKERS 2: Shakers' second successive 3-2 away defeat saw them slip down to fifth place in Division Three and out of the automatic promotion zone.

Despite a rousing fight-back with goals by Ian Lawson (80) and Redmond (89), Kidder held on and having taken a point at Gigg Lane last month will be well satisfied with their tally this season.

Kidder took a half-time lead through Andy Bishop and Sean Parrish before Bishop appeared to have settled the issue on 63 minutes.

But Shakers refused to give up and were still battling for that vital equaliser after four minutes of added on play.

Before the match boss Andy Preece urged his players to use Tuesday night's LDV Vans Trophy elimination to spur them on to promotion.

The manner of the 3-2 golden goal defeat at Carlisle, via a deflected shot two minutes from the end of extra time, left them stunned and bitterly disappointed at the final whistle.

But the Bury manager wants his squad to absorb the misery of the night and make sure they limit the number of defeats till the end of the season.

"The lads felt robbed and were absolutely gutted to lose that game," said Preece.

"And that's just the reaction you'd expect from them, it's how it should be.

"But I've told them that they should remember how they felt when they got back to the dressing room.

"They must make sure they don't feel the same way too often between now and the end of the season.

"We have to take positives out of the result, the LDV Trophy won't win us promotion and we must regroup and get our league form right.

"We looked back to our best in the second half and haven't played as much football as that for some weeks.

"And even when we went down to ten men we still creating chances and looked dangerous on the break."

Despite the fact that it had a bearing on the result, Preece had no complaints about the crucial sending of of Chris Billy two minutes into extra time for a second bookable offence.

"It was a two-footed challenge and you can't get away with those," he said.

"I can't complain too much as a few minutes earlier one of their players did the same to Steve Redmond and earned a booking."

But Preece couldn't hide the disappointment of losing a match his side really ought to have wrapped up in the second half.

Especially the result has scuppered an almost certain Sky TV appearance and the finacial windfall that goes with it.

"We didn't start for the first half hour and they were the better side," he added.

"They played as though it was a cup tie and we didn't. But for the next hour some of our football was different class on what was a very difficult surface."

"I can't criticise the lads at all. Everything I asked of them at half time they did and we scored two superb goals.

"Terry Dunfield's was top drawer, he showed fantastic technique for the volley and he was a driving force for us all night.

"He was always getting onto the ball and making us play, he is getting stronger and better every game.

"George Clegg's came from a good move too. Danny Swailes did well bringing the ball forward and Ian Lawson showed great vision to pick out Cleggy.

"But their equaliser was a big disappointment. It was just a looping cross to the far post and we'd dealt well with balls like that all night.

"Redders said he got a push in the back but whether he did or he didn't doesn't matter now."

It now remains to be seen whether the financial implications of missing out on the final will have a knock-on effect on Preece's first team squad.

"I honestly don't know what will happen," he added. "It's the million dollar question.

"Obviously I want a squad that will get us promoted but those decisions are out of my hands and only time will tell what the reaction will be."