Bury climbed back into the automatic promotion places after a hard-fought 1-0 win over arch-rivals Rochdale.
Lowe settles derby contest
Bury climbed back into the automatic promotion places on Monday after a hard-fought 1-0 win over derby rivals Rochdale.
Former Bury loanee Chris O'Grady missed a golden opportunity to put League Two leaders Dale into a late lead.
And Ryan Lowe made him pay moments later, claiming a 78th-minute winner with his 11th goal of the season.
That halted Dale's 11-match unbeaten run and sent the Shakers back into third, although Dale remain seven points clear.
Bury edged a frenetic first half, in which the best chance fell to home skipper Stephen Dawson.
Open goal
Lowe and strike partner Andy Morrell combined to find Dawson, whose first-time effort was parried by Dale goalkeeper Frank Fielding.
The hosts remained on top after the break, with Morrell hitting a 20-yard effort narrowly wide before Efe Sodje's header was headed off the line by Will Atkinson.
Dave Buchanan was then robbed by Dale's new loan signing Tope Obadeyi, who squared for O'Grady to scuff wide of an open goal under pressure from Sodje.
Nathan Stanton's clearance was then charged down by Dave Worrall and the loose ball fell kindly for Lowe to tuck past Fielding from 16 yards and secure bragging rights for Bury.
