ALL good things must come to an end – but it is how Bury react from losing their nine-match unbeaten run that matters now.

While defeat, courtesy of Omar Daley's first half penalty, was harsh on the hard-working Shakers, they did lack their usual spark in front of goal.

How much of that was down to the monsoon-like conditions is unclear, but manager Alan Knill rightly refused to be too downbeat after the game – especially with his side sitting clear in the automatic promotions place as they take a break for a double assault on the cup competitions.

“The result was disappointing but I can't fault the performance, it was excellent,” said Knill.

“We will just move on because it's only our third defeat in 15 league games. I don't think there is too much to worry about.

“Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit. They made it difficult for us, putting 10 men behind the ball, and we gave them something to hold on to with the penalty.

“I was pleased that we moved the ball about pretty well on a difficult pitch. The frustrating thing for us was that we isolated their full-backs on a few occasions but couldn't get at them because the ball was getting stuck in the pitch.”

Shakers skipper Steven Schumacher, who drove his team forward at every opportunity, said the conditions were the worst he has ever played in.

Both the manager and his captain were loathe to make too many excuses, but Bury, who have won many plaudits and admirers because of their crisp passing game, struggled to make too much headway in the final third.

Nicky Ajose and Michael Jones went close in the early stages, but Bradford were a threat on the counter-attack and Jason Price forced a point-blank save from Owain Fon Williams with a stinging header.

The same two players came head to head once again in the 28th minute, but it was the Bantams man who won the battle this time as a penalty was awarded for Williams' trip.

With Efe Sodje tracking back and Price running away from goal, the on-loan keeper avoided a red card but there was little he could do with Daley's thunderous spot-kick that put the visitors into the lead.

As Knill feared, it gave Peter Taylor's men something to cling on to.

The hosts upped the ante in the second half and Ajose might have levelled had he managed to get a shot away when the ball landed at his feet eight yards out.

Lowe was also unlucky when a skidding shot from the edge of the area rolled inches wide of the post with the keeper beaten.

Williams was at full stretch to tip James Hanson's rasping shot over the bar before, during the late onslaught, Jones forced a fantastic save out of Lenny Pidgley.

Bury's fate was sealed but they can head into Saturday's FA Cup clash with Exeter with their heads held high after a spirited performance.

After all, they could be into the second round of the FA Cup, semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and nicely positioned in the League Two automatic promotion places should they recover their winning form over the next seven days.

Bury: Williams 7, Picken 8, Sodje 7, Lees 7, Skarz 7, Worrall 7 (John-Lewis 6, 70), Mozika 7, Schumacher 8, Jones 7, Lowe 6, Ajose 6. Subs not used: Futcher, Sweeney, Carlton, Haworth, Bennett, Branagan.

Bradford: Pidgeley 7, O'Brien 7, Rehman 7, Oliver 6, Daley 8 (Hanson 7, 70), Doherty 7 (Bullock 6, 84), Williams 6, Osborne 6, Syers 6, Adeyemi 7, Price 8. Subs not used: Evans, McLaughlin, Moult, Chilaka, Threlfall.

Attendance: 3,521

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear)