Bury 1 QPR 2 by Steve Canavan

REFEREES, the saying goes, are at their best when they are not noticed.

Colin Webster, however, proved to be the exception. Nobody noticed him because he hardly ever blew his whistle, yet it was his reluctance to interfere which probably cost Bury the game.

He failed to spot a blatant handball which would have given Bury a 10th minute penalty and then salt was really rubbed in the wound when QPR scored twice with both goals highly controversial; one which looked offside and another a foul that never was.

It doesn't take an Oxford graduate to work out how Shakers boss Andy Preece felt; he was livid, especially as Bury had started like greyhounds, scoring as early as the fourth minute.

But - with more than a little help from Mr Webster - QPR struck back twice and claimed all the points.

"I'm not generally a moaner but today there were six blatant decisions which went against us," blasted Preece, who spent 15 minutes after the game locked in the ref's room - presumably not discussing where they went on their summer holidays.

"There isn't much you can do when the officials miss things like they did today," Preece added.

It was a shame the referee spoiled Bury's day because they started where they left off at Tranmere last week, although a poor Steve Redmond header with the match just 30 seconds old forced Paddy Kenny to save bravely at the feet of Terrell Forbes.

But Bury were soon ahead. Sam Collins produced a Steve Blackley style throw into the area and young defender Michael Nelson glanced a header past static Rangers keeper Chris Daly.

It was Nelson's third goal in two league appearances since he joined from UniBond outfit Bishop Auckland and capped another superb display which earned him the man of the match award.

Never mind a 50-50 challenge, the lad is so tough he would not back out of a 10-90 one.

On seven minutes it could have been even better after good link-up play between Jon Newby and Baichung Bhutia created a opening for Paul Reid. His thunderous 20-yard volley smashed against the crossbar and away to safety before the keeper had time to blink.

Newby was in fine form, creating chances for others all afternoon. It was just a pity he couldn't have been on the end of them as well, because he would surely have taken one of them. As it is the out-of-sorts Bhutia, Reid and second half substitute Gareth Seddon later wasted Newby's good work.

After their nightmare start Rangers gradually got back in the game and drew level on 29 minutes.

Striker Andy Thompson - who looked yards offside - raced clear and forced Shakers keeper Paddy Kenny to crudely scythe him down.

Kenny was lucky not to be dismissed but he could do nothing about the resulting spot kick, which Thompson confidently slotted home.

Bury had various half chances after the break to score but failed to hit the target and it cost them.

On 67 minutes Sam Collins was harshly adjudged to have fouled Marcus Bignot on the edge of the area and defender Paul Bruce stepped up to curl a lovely 20-yard free kick into the corner of the goal.

"QPR are a half decent side but they are no better than us," added Preece. "But there is nothing you can do when you don't get any of the critical decisions which decide the outcome of a match." BURY: Kenny 7, Barrass 7, Armstrong 7, Redmond 7, Collins 8, NELSON 9, Reid 7, Forrest 7, Billy 8, Newby 9, Bhutia 6. Subs: Seddon (for Bhutia 49), Jarrett (for Forrest 68), Murphy (for Barrass 76), Unsworth, Swailes. Att: 4,167