ALAN Knill refused to be too despondent after watching his side slip to their second home defeat of the season.

Grimsby, who arrived at Gigg Lane on the back of four consecutive defeats, staged a classic smash and grab show to bring Bury back down to earth after fantastic away victories at Darlington and Hereford.

Barry Conlon's 21st minute header proved the difference in a game which the home side dominated without making their superiority count.

“I don't think I have seen a more one-sided game for a long time, but it's about what happens in both penalty boxes,” said Bury manager Knill.

“We gave them a disappointing goal after starting well and looking really bright, and then we were the better team again but couldn't score.

“We tried everything, including putting a right winger at right-back, but it was one of those days.

“I thought the performance was pretty good and, on another day, it would have been a comfortable win for us.

“I think if we continue to play like that we will win more than we lose.”

Bury raced out of the blocks and skipper Paul Scott went close with a couple of headers before Grimsby went into the lead.

Danny North showed some neat footwork on the left side of the area to dink the ball across, and former Manchester City striker Conlon headed home from six yards out.

Bury were stung into action and on-loan striker Jordan Robertson twice went close after being teed up by the impressive David Worrall, while Michael Jones should have done better when his shot was saved after Ryan Lowe's deft flick had opened the Mariners' defence.

Bury were forced into an early reshuffle in the second half when left-back David Buchanan was forced off and replaced at fullback by central defender Ryan Cresswell.

That left Knill's men disjointed and, although they bossed the game from the middle of the park, they didn't create too many chances of note in the second period.

Stephen Dawson saw a goalbound shot deflected over by Ryan Bennett and Jones fired wide on a couple of occassions while, at the other end, North blazed over from eight yards under pressure from Ben Futcher.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Bury, who are trying to tie up a deal with former Grimsby full-back Tom Newey as cover for Buchanan, who picked up a back injury.

Shakers supporters will have been pleased to see a lively cameo from last season's leading scorer Andy Bishop from the bench, but youngster Domaine Rouse was left out of the squad for a breach of club discipline late last week.

Bury are back in action on Saturday when they visit neighbours Rochdale at Spotland.

BURY: Brown 6, Scott 6 (Racchi 6, 65), Futcher 7, Sodje 6, Buchanan 6 (Cresswell 6, 48), Worrall 8, Dawson 7, Barry-Murphy 7, Jones 7, Robertson 7 (Bishop 6, 67), Lowe 7. Subs not used: Johnson, Baker, Morrell, Belford.

GRIMSBY: Forecast 7, Stockdale 7, Bennett 7, Widdowson 6, Atkinson 6, Sweeney 6 (Boshell 6, 78), Leary 6, Clarke 6 (Bore 6, 69), Proudlock 6 (Linwood 6, 69), Conlon 7, North 7. Subs not used: Overton, Heywood, Fuller, Jones.

Attendance: 2,799 (365 Grimsby fans)

Referee: Mr R Booth (Notts)