BOSTON UNITED 3, SHAKERS 1: Shakers boss Chris Casper described his side's defending as 'farcical' after the Shakers furthered their awful record against bogey team Boston.

Boston had been humbled 5-0 at home by Carlisle in midweek, but after only half an hour, it was clear there would be no repeat as the Shakers gifted the former non league men a two-goal lead.

It was woeful stuff from Chris Casper's men, when, in the space of four minutes, on-loan goalkeeper Anthony Williams dropped a corner-kick onto the toe of Julian Joachim who made no mistake from two yards.

But worse was to follow when Colin Woodthorpe tripped dangerman James Keene in the box and Joachim struck again from the penalty spot.

Following recent four goal reverses at Peterborough and Carlisle, it looked like a third heavy away defeat was on the cards but, in the 38th minute, for the second time in two weeks a deflection came to Bury's aid.

Allan Smart broke away down the right flank and drove in a powerful cross that came off the boot of full-back Lee Canoville only to sail over Pilgrims keeper Conrad Logan into the back of the net.

Suddenly, against the odds, the Shakers were back in the contest and, although they made a brighter start of the second period, in the last third of the field too often lacked a quality ball.

Smart worked manfully up front for the full 90 minutes and won his share of high balls but fellow strikers Jake Speight and Colin Marrison didn't get into the game the way they did against Torquay the previous week.

The home side restored their two goal cushion on the hour and, again, it was poor defending that was the Shakers' undoing.

Joachim turned provider this time, finding Till with a clever through ball and the youngster, on loan from Birmingham City, turned Woodthorpe and easily slotted the ball past Williams.

Bury boss Casper was far from happy at the final whistle, saying: "There was a lack of thought about the way we played and we didn't stick to our gameplan.

"Too many players did what they wanted to do and our decision-making was absolutely dreadful.

"Boston are a decent team but the goals they scored were absolutely farcical.

"We didn't defend up front or in midfield and didn't win enough second balls and if you don't do that you are going to be beaten.

"We are going to have to learn from this and take it on the chin, I've asked the players for reasons for a display like that but none have been forthcoming."

Bury: Williams, Scott, Challinor, Woodthorpe, Brass, Flitcroft, Barry-Murphy (Mattis 65), Buchanan, Marrison (Tipton 62), Smart, Speight (Newby 75). Subs not used: Fitzgerald and Grundy.

Referee: Mr Andy Hall (West Midlands)

Attendance: 2,018