Ryman North Bury Town 1 Phoenix Sports 2 Ben Chenery felt his Bury Town side did not get what they deserved after losing 2-1 at home to Phoenix Sports on Saturday.

The Blues created multiple chances to score in a goalless first half, but it was a disastrous eight-minute spell at the start of the second half which all but ended their hopes of ending their recent losing run.

Michael Power struck twice in the 47th and 53rd minutes for visitors Phoenix, before Bury captain Bradley Barber was sent off for a second yellow card on 55 minutes, leaving the Blues trailing 2-0 and down to 10 men.

Luke Read pulled a goal back for the hosts five minutes from time, but Chenery’s side could not find an equaliser and slipped to their fifth defeat in a row.

Bury now sit in 11th place in the Ryman League Division One North table, six places and 10 points adrift of fifth place Cheshunt in the last play-off place.

But despite seeing his side lose further ground on the race for the play-offs, Chenery believes the Blues were unfortunate not to end their losing run at the weekend.

“I felt we were good today,” the Blues boss said. “I felt last week we were well below our normal levels, but this week we were much better.

“I felt they were excellent at times. In the first half we’ve had two or three great opportunities to score, we put one in and I think we go on and win the game quite comfortably.

“In the second half they have a shot which bobbles in the bottom corner out of nothing.

“We then concede a penalty which I think is harsh. We then have someone sent off.

“We then have a stonewall penalty not given, we score one with 10 men and we were outplaying them with 10 men.

“We were better than them all over the pitch today and we didn’t get what we deserved.

“I said this before, you must negotiate results (on the pitch). We didn’t negotiate it but I can sit here and be proud of the players.”