BURY boss Lee Clark was able to pluck the positives out of Saturday's defeat at home to Gillingham – his first in four games since taking charge.

The Shakers dominated their relegation rivals from start to finish but a failure to convert their chances proved crucial on a scrappy afternoon at Gigg Lane.

Bradley Dack and Cody McDonald fired the Gills into a 2-0 lead before James Vaughan halved the deficit with a spectacular overhead kick – his 20th goal of the season.

Jacob Mellis and George Miller both saw efforts hit the post as Bury pushed for a late equaliser.

But the visitors hung on to leapfrog the Shakers, who remain four points above the drop zone after Oldham and Swindon also suffered defeats.

“It would have been an injustice to our players even if we had only taken one point,” Clark said. “The fact that we have got zero and we have lost it is an injustice.

“(I couldn't be happier with) the way we performed – the level of performance, the amount of chances we have created and the energy that we have played with.

"We are disappointed with the two goals, we have given away, that goes without saying.

“We could have prevented the goals, but we were caught ball watching.

"The first one we were caught ball watching from a long ball, the second, you are always frustrated when you concede from a set play.

“But there were a lot of positives to take from the game. Yes I am very disappointed and frustrated for the players but I’m not dispirited by anything I’ve seen, in fact I’m encouraged.

“I’d say in terms of their overall game it’s probably the best we’ve played since I’ve been here in terms of possession and territory.”

Bury registered 24 shots compared to the visitors’ five, but they struggled to pick up any real momentum with the Gills attempting to slow the game down at every opportunity.

Referee Darren Drysdale added on four minutes in the first half and five in the second, and booked Stuart Nelson and Joe Quigley for time wasting.

But despite the disruptive tactics, Clark had no qualms with his opposite number Adrian Pennock’s “gameplan".

He added: “I think they came with a plan to slow the game down before it even started.

“I think there was longer than five minutes stoppage time in the first half and I was surprised it was only that.

"Fair play to Adrian and his lads. They came with a gameplan and got the three points, well done to them.”

However, Clark is confident if his side keep up the momentum, which has seen only one defeat in six games, then they will avoid relegation come the end of the season.

“I don’t want players being happy when they’ve lost, but as I said to them it’s a cruel game,” Clark said.

“They have got nothing to feel down about, they’ve given me absolutely everything and they played with a lot of quality.

“If they continue to play like that until the end of the season there will be enough points taken for us to be okay.”

Vaughan’s magnificent overhead kick was the forward’s 10th strike in his last eight games.

And his manager has given him the backing to keep firing the Shakers away from League One’s bottom four.

“He is top drawer and his goal record tells you that,” Clark said of his in-form hitman. “For me, it’s his overall game – his character, his personality, his will to win and his work ethic. He never gives up and he deserves all the plaudits he gets.

“He is a striker – they’re judged on goals and his scoring record at this football club, and throughout his career, is top drawer.

“I’m delighted to be working with him and there’s no doubt there will be more goals between now and the end of the season."

Clark has also set his other players the task of taking some of the pressure off League One’s second-top goalscorer.

He added: “I know all of our goals are coming from strikers but can we get goals coming from other players?

“I’d like to see that to take the burden off those players.”

Match ratings

Bury (5-3-2): Murphy 6; Moore 6 (Pennant 75, 6), Barnett 6, Beadling 6, C Burgess 6, Leigh 7; Styles 7, Caddis 6 (Lowe 65, 7), Mellis 7; Pope 5 (Miller 58, 7), Vaughan 7.

Subs not used: Lainton, Maher, Walker, Hope.

Gillingham (3-4-1-2): Nelson; Jackson (Dickenson 40), Ehmer, Rehman; Byrne, Wright, Osadebe, Martin; Dack; McDonald, Quigley (Parker 59).

Subs not used: Holy, Hessenthaler, List, Cundle, Muldoon.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Attendance: 3,203 (199 visiting).