BURY were left under no illusions as to how hard their push for promotion will be after basement boys Stockport sprung a surprise derby day defeat on them.

Ryan Lowe's late consolation goal proved too little too late as second half strikes from Matt Paterson and Anthony Elding handed the Hatters their first victory in 10 games and helped them complete the double over their Lancashire neighbours this season.

The visitors were made to pay for poor finishing and dreadful defending on an afternoon when very little went for them.

They did create enough chances to take something from the game but, in truth, their performance was not at the same high level as it has been in previous weeks.

And while manager Alan Knill refused to publicly criticise his team, there is every chance there might have been one or two crossed words said inside the sanctuary of the dressing room.

“I can't say it was a bad day at the office because it wasn't,” said Knill, who is still reeling from the news that on-loan Manchester United striker Nicky Ajose faces up to six weeks out with a knee injury.

“We created enough chances to win the game easily. On another day we would have scored five and we just have to realise that this happens sometimes and not get too carried away with defeats because I think we are playing pretty well.

“If we have the biggest squad, budget and the most players we would have every right to expect to win every game but we don't have that right and we have to realise we are doing pretty well.

“Expectation is high at this club and people expect us to Turn up and win here because they are bottom of the league, but we didn't do the right things today and it has cost us two goals. It is basic stuff really.”

Neither side could impose themselves in the first half, and it was not until the 44th minute that the game finally broke into life.

Both Andy Bishop and Efe Sodje got on the end of superb crosses into the box, only to find County keeper Matt Glennon in fine form.

And it looked like it was going to be one of those days once the normally-reliable Lowe shot straight at the keeper after getting a clean run on goal.

A failure to take their chances looked like it would cost Knill's men dear, and so it proved when Stockport stormed into the lead.

Paterson, making his debut after signing from Southend United on a loan deal, showed a superb bit of skill to get the better of his marker and his shot was too good for Cameron Belford, who should have done much better in the Bury goal.

The Gigg Lane men were on the back foot and they were given an almighty reprieve when Belford failed to clear his lines and Elding swept home, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside despite a Bury defender appearing to be stood on the line.

Elding, however, was not to be denied and he smashed home at the far post in the 83rd minute to seemingly put the result beyond doubt.

But Bury finally rallied as Lowe rounded the keeper to net his 19th goal of the season and throw his side a lifeline.

And a point should have been snatched in the dying seconds, but an unmarked Lenell John-Lewis could only head straight at Glennon from six yards out.

A disappointing afternoon was sealed in the final minute when Damien Mozika watched in disbelief as his equalising goal was chalked off for handball.

Both Knill and a number of his players hinted that the goal should have been allowed to stand, but they boarded the bus back to Bury knowing, deep down, they will need to show signs of improvement when table-topping Chesterfield visit on Tuesday evening.

STOCKPORT: Glennon 8, Lynch 7, Goodall 8, Turnbull 8, Tansey 7, Paterson 8 (Assoumani 6, 90), Griffin 7, Poole 8 (Halls 6, 81), O'Donnell 6, Brown 6, Elding 7. Subs not used: Vincent, Mainwaring, Rowe, Fisher, Ormson.

BURY: Belford 6, Picken 7 (Worrall 7, 84), Lees 6 (Futcher 7, 17), Sodje 6, Skarz 7, Haworth 6 (John-Lewis 7, 74), Mozika 7, Schumacher 7, Jones 6, Lowe 8, Bishop 6. Subs not used: Sweeney, Bennett, Harrop, Branagan.

Attendance: 4,903 (1,083 Bury fans)

Referee: Danny McDermid (Hampshire)