According to the league table, however, Bury are still handly positioned in eighth place. Yet this is a false position - it does not reflect the twelve points - over half the amount already accquired - which have been dropped over the past few days, or the fact that a majority of the teams below have as many as two games in hand on the Shakers. It is now also becoming increasingly difficult to see where the next win will come from in the current state of decline.

"It is now becoming increasingly difficult to see where the next win will come"

In contrast to the shock defeat at Gigg Lane at the weekend which saw Bournemouth run away with the game in amazing circumstances, there was instead a sad resignation to this loss. Reading, second in the table and emerging as one of the automatic promotion candidates, didn't look troubled by their hosts, netting twice on the counter attack in a short period around the hour mark to seal the three points. Meanwhile, off the pitch, Gigg Lane was almost deserted as the lashing rain and the Shakers' last performance combined to drive away the crowds leaving a desolate backdrop to this game.

"Gigg Lane was almost deserted, leaving a desolate backdrop to this game"

The Royals overcame an early injury to Matthew Robinson to win the match as he was replaced by Andy Gurney. However it wasn't until the 54th minute when Martin Butler swept home at the near post to put the visitors ahead, although they did have a similar effort ruled out by the linesman's flag moments earlier. Only seven minutes later, and in a parallel to Saturday's game when Bournemouth scored their goals in a narrow period in the game, Jamie Cureton finished simply in an open goal after Butler drew Patrick Kenny before crossing for Cureton in the box.

Shakers Team: Patrick Kenny, Chris Swailes, Steve Redmond, Sam Collins, Lee Unsworth, Chris Billy, Paul Reid, Nick Daws, Dean Barrick*, Adrian Littlejohn**, Andy Preece.