NEIL Warnock shook his head in disbelief after watching the Shakers lose a game which could, and should, have been over within the first 10 minutes. In that time, his strikers converted only one chance and squandered a host of others before allowing a very ordinary Watford side to effortlessly turn the screw and steal the three points.

"It's an old saying, but you have to take your chances," said a stunned Warnock.

"They didn't have to work for any of their goals, while we had four one-on-ones and didn't take any.

"I thought that was as good as we have played for a long time, but we have lost a game we could have won. Graham Taylor will be as relieved as I am disappointed."

Clearly inspired by their gritty Old Trafford display just three days earlier, Warnock's side started the game like league leaders and threatened to run up a cricket score.

They failed, however, to build on some rare 'sexy football' - and that failure appeared to tear the heart out of their promising start. Workaholic Rob Matthews was the first to test the reflexes of Hornets keeper Alec Chamberlain on three minutes before Lennie Johnrose headed high and wide from the resulting corner.

Tony Ellis tamely shot into Chamberlain's arms two minutes later, after superb work by star man Nick Daws, but did manage to capitalise on the midfielder's efforts seconds later when he nodded home his cross for the game's opening goal.

Still, however, the missed chances came as Bury's goalscorer failed to make it two from close range when Matthews's cross from the right ran just behind him.

Add to that a near own goal from Watford defender Steve Palmer and the most one-sided opening 13 minutes of football had brought just one goal.

Back came Taylor's side with a 25th minute equaliser from Darren Bazeley, his pace getting the better of Steve Redmond, before, almost inevitably with Bury these days, a controversial refereeing decision reared its ugly head. Referee Roger Furnandiz inexplicably awarded a free kick to the Shakers inches outside the Watford box, despite Matthews being upended two yards to the other side of the whitewash.

Another certain spot kick was refused and Bury's heads dropped. Right on cue, Watford struck a killer blow as Michel Ngonge beat Redmond and Dean Kiely for a half-time lead.

A dull second half never looked like going Bury's way with the best chance falling the way of Daws whose floating shot forced Chamberlain to force the ball on to the woodwork.

Alan Smart rubbed salt into the wounds with the third and decisive goal six minutes from time, much to the bemusement of Kiely, whom he had earlier clashed with after a clumsy challenge resulted in the Bury keeper tumbling over the advertising hoardings.

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