BURY passed up a glorious opportunity to move out of League One’s bottom four following a 2-1 defeat at relegation rivals Shrewsbury.

The Shakers have only registered one win in 13 games since Chris Brass took over the reins but could have climbed out of the drop zone with victory.

Instead, the gap to the Shrews was extended to five points, but Bury still remain two points from safety with Swindon not playing until tomorrow.

After a tightly-contested first half, Tyler Roberts and Freddie Ladapo fired the Shrews into a commanding lead in the second period.

Three minutes from time substitute Jacob Mellis pulled a goal back but it proved only a consolation.

Head coach Brass made two changes from the side that drew 3-3 at home to Walsall last weekend.

Tom Soares was sold to AFC Wimbledon on transfer deadline day while Mellis dropped to the bench as Jermaine Pennant was handed his first start and Kelvin Etuhu returned to the starting line-up.

Defensive mistakes have been costly in recent weeks and Bury almost fell behind in spectacular fashion when skipper Antony Kay headed the ball inches wide of his own goal.

With much riding on the game the Shakers struggled to settle and were wasteful in possession.

In-form striker James Vaughan had a couple of half-chances – one headed straight at goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler and the other volleyed wide from the edge of the box.

The best chance fell at the feet of Reece Brown after good work from Hallam Hope but the midfielder scuffed his shot over the crossbar.

The first bit of quality of the game came from Shakers stopper Rob Lainton when he produced a magnificent one-handed save to deny Shaun Whalley, who had raced through on goal.

From the resulting corner Lainton had to be on his toes to keep out Whalley’s stinging volley before making a smart save from Roberts.

Two minutes into the second half Shrewsbury took the lead. Left-back Junior Brown beat Taylor Moore down the wing before pulling the ball back to Roberts who smashed home.

Bury almost produced an instant response but Hope’s header glanced across the face of goal and wide.

With a spring in his step the winger cut in from the right and drilled a shot straight at Leutwiler.

The Shrews had a fantastic chance to double their advantage in the 53rd minute when Ladapo dragged the ball wide from a couple of yards out.

The menacing forward had a header cleared off the goal-line by Vaughan midway through the half but he got his just rewards when scoring in the 78th minute – albeit with a huge slice of fortune.

Roberts’ shot from the edge of the box struck Cameron Burgess before bouncing into the path of Ladapo who applied the simple finish to double the advantage.

Substitute Mellis pulled a goal back with three minutes to go but it proved too little, too late as Bury remain in League bottom four.