Bury 2 Bradford City 1: Late pressure not enough
Mike Jones's 17th-minute opener for Bury was cancelled out six minutes later by Efe Sodje's own goal.
Ryan Lowe put the hosts back in front with a 32nd-minute penalty and the Bantams were unable to avoid a fifth game without a win.
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Hide AdCity – wearing Bury's white home shirt from last season because of a kit clash – should have grabbed an early opener.
Scott Neilson's cross was inch-perfect for Gareth Evans but his side-footed volley was held by Bury goalkeeper Wayne Brown.
The hosts hit back with City's new goalkeeper Matt Glennon forced to turn Ryan Lowe's effort wide. Jonathan Bateson then cleared off the line after Ben Futcher headed goalwards from Mike Jones's corner.
Bury then found space down the right for Lowe to release David Worrall, who squared for Jones to bundle the ball in from 10 yards.
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Hide AdThe Bantams regrouped and Neilson lofted the ball towards Michael Boulding, whose header back across goal deflected in off defender Sodje. But Jones then picked out Stephen Dawson's run into the box, Glennon brought down the Bury captain and Lowe scored from the spot.
Michael Flynn and Neilson then tested Brown and Boulding fired just wide after the break.
Andy Morrell fired just wide for Bury but moments later Chris Brandon struck a post.
City captain Zesh Rehman twice went close as the visitors pushed for an equaliser late on but they were left disappointed.
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Hide AdBury: Brown, Scott, Futcher, Sodje, Buchanan, Worrall, Barry-Murphy, Dawson, Jones, Lowe, Morrell. Unused substitutes: Allen, Baker, McCarthy, Newey, Racchi, Belford.
Bradford City: Glennon, Bateson, Rehman, Clarke, O'Brien, Neilson, Flynn, Ramsden, Brandon (R. Boulding 74), M. Boulding, Evans (Daley 61). Unused substitutes: J. Boulding, Horne, McLaughlin.
Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).