GRIMSBY 2 BURY 0

LUCK deserted the Shakers once more at Blundell Park - but new loan recruit Jason Kennedy insists the side have more than enough talent to avoid relegation.

A fluke opener from Danny North 10 minutes in set the mood for Bury's 13th consecutive game without victory - and a wonderful volley from Ciaran Toner just 13 minutes later gave Chris Casper's side too much to do.

But a battling second-half performance was enough to convince Middlesbrough youth product Kennedy that they could avoid another close brush with the drop.

The 20-year-old, on loan from the Riverside for a month, has already played for fellow strugglers Boston United this season. And drawing comparisons with the Pilgrims, Kennedy thinks his current club have the quality to pull clear of the drop zone.

"It's definitely a relegation fight, and I experienced the same feeling at Boston," said the Stockton-born midfielder, who made four appearances in the Premiership under former Boro boss Steve McClaren.

"But if the lads dig in, there is more ability here, and we should get out of it.

"The attitude was good at Boston, but there are betters players around me at Bury."

Kennedy, in fact, could have got the Shakers back in the game on 63 minutes, when after some enterprising build-up play, he latched on to Andy Bishop's knock down to fire a close range shot straight at Mariners Phil Barnes.

Grimsby, up to that point, had deserved their advantage, even if there was a touch of fortune to their opening goal.

North's run down the right went unchecked, but his low cross into the area evaded everyone, only to nestle in the bottom corner of Andy Warrington's goal.

The home side went on to enjoy a purple patch - and there was nothing fortuitous about their second goal - a wonderful left-footed volley from the edge of the area from top-scorer Toner.

It could have been more, had the home side been more ruthless in front of goal. Peter Bore, a constant threat on the right, lashed wide from close range and North almost grabbed his second, scuffing the post with a low shot.

Grimsby seemed content to sit back in the second half, and had Kennedy converted his chance just after the hour mark, some much-needed confidence would have coursed around the Shakers side.

Tom Kennedy's late free-kick, cleared off the line by Jason Whittle, was as close as Bury came to changing the scoreboard - leaving manager Casper cursing his side's fortune.

"There were a lot of positives from today's performance, but the first goal was a freak and the second has sailed in from 20 yards - that's the way it is going for us at the moment.

"If we'd have scored a goal, then I think we could have gone on and got something out of the game."

l In yet more bad news for the Shakers, midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy could have kicked his last ball for the club after rupturing his hamstring in training on Friday.

The Irishman is out of contract in the summer, and his season has been blighted by injury.

Shakers: Warrington 6; Scott 6; Tom Kennedy 6; Challinor 6; Wroe 5; Bishop 6; Baker 6 (Pugh 6, 59); Buchanan 5; Jason Kennedy 6; Kempson 6; Bedeau 5 (Hurst 6, 66). Subs not used: Fitzgerald; Parrish; Speight.