The return of top scorer Ryan Lowe can't come quickly enough for Bury boss Alan Knill.

The frontman missed this defeat with a groin injury as the Shakers dominated but paid dearly for a succession of missed chances.

The game was decided when Davide Somma slammed the 80th minute winner beyond Cameron Belford.

Even a point would have strengthened Bury's bid to secure a play-off finish. Instead, Knill's men face a nail-biting finale to the season with just two points seperating them from 11th-placed Dagenham.

"It's very tight but it's still in our hands, and it always has been," said Knill. "We've had so many chances to step forward and take it, and this was another one. Three points at Lincoln, even a point, would have made it difficult for everybody else.

"It's disappointing because it was a great chance for us and while we didn't play great, we played well enough. But that's why we are where we are, fighting to stay in the play-offs when really we should be out of sight."

Knill will be hoping Lowe's return provides the cutting edge missing at Sincil Bank, where Andy Morrell was twice denied by Rob Burch and Michael Jones blazed Bury's best chance of the day high and wide when clean through on goal.

"We had to leave Ryan out because he's had a sore groin for a couple of weeks and the advice was to leave him out this weekend with a view to being fit for the next game," said Knill.

"Hopefully, he'll be fine for Torquay next weekend."

BURY: Belford 6, Scott 6 (Elliott 82), Cresswell 6, Sodje 6, Buchanan 6, Dawson 7, Barry-Murphy 8, Jones 6 (Poole 76), Worrall 6, Bishop 6 (Carlton 68, 6), Morrell 7.

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