The home side's play-off hopes remain very much alive after a deserved victory with three goals from the Reed brothers.

The defeat ended AFC's unbeaten run of 16 games, which coincidentally started with victory against Bury Town on Boxing Day.

This was one of AFC's three matches in hand on Dartford who now sit comfortably with a nine-point lead at the top of the table.

The unseasonable Easter weather meant that this game was played a day later than originally scheduled, and the delay meant a change to AFC's plans.

Defender Kevin Hughes, who had been selected for the original game, was unavailable due to a bereavement.

This resulted in Simon Head being drafted from the bench into a defence which was also without the services of Brett Girling who was sidelined with a leg strain.

There was a first start for striker Darren Bethell since his return to the club, and keeper Dean Neil regained his place after a five-match ban.

And it was the AFC defence who never got to grips with the fleet-footed Bury attack.

Time and again they were caught square, and Bury took full advantage to score three goals on the break – and it could have been more as AFC pressed to get back late into the game.

As local derbies go, it was good entertainment for the neutrals in the 508 crowd, and three penalties and six bookings, three for each side, did not reflect the good spirit in which it was played.

It might have been different had AFC skipper David Head converted his second penalty of the game to level the scores with 11 minutes remaining.

He had given AFC the perfect start, converting a fourth-minute spot kick after a handball to give his side an early lead.

It looked a harsh decision, and the same could be said when Bury were awarded a penalty eight minutes later after a free kick had been headed on by Gavin Johnson and Gareth Heath was adjudged to have handled.

Liam Barrett's spot kick struck the corner of post and bar and rebounded into play.

AFC went on to enjoy some good possession, but did little to trouble Dean Greygoose, the former AFC keeper, in the Bury goal.

Bury levelled after 28 minutes.

The alarm bells had already been sounded as twice Bury had broken clear with long balls over the top to catch the AFC defence square, and twice Neil had saved the day.

But the third time AFC were made to pay as Sam Reed raced clear to slot home the equaliser. It was honours even at the break, but the home side had finished the half strongly.

Early in the second half Sam Reed showed the AFC defence a clean pair of heels as he broke down the left to flash a shot across the face of the visitors' goal.

Chances had been few and far between for AFC, but they created one on the hour when striker Chris Bacon, who had replaced Luke Hammond two minutes earlier, outpaced the home defence.

But his control was poor, and he collided with Greygoose on the edge of his area.

Bacon received lengthy treatment and was left hobbling for the remainder of the game.

Bury took the lead after 69 minutes with Sam Reed scoring his second in almost carbon-copy fashion… out-pacing the AFC defence to easily beat the exposed Neil.

A free kick from 22 yards was wasted by AFC as Stuart Boardley's effort was cleared by the defensive wall before the visitors were given a life-line with the award of a second penalty, with 11 minutes remaining, after James Rowe had been brought down following a spell of pressure.

Up stepped David Head, but this time the same post that kept Barrett's spot kick out earlier came to Bury's aid, and the ball was easily cleared.

The remaining minutes were spent with AFC pressing desperately for an equaliser, leaving themselves even more exposed at the back.

They were caught again four minutes into stoppage time when substitute Lee Reed raced clear to score at the second attempt after Neil had blocked his first effort.

The bragging rights were firmly back in Bury's court and there could be few complaints.

AFC boss Mark Morsley was disappointed at his team's performance, but he still made time to shake hands with each of the Bury players as they left the field.

AFC Sudbury: Neil; S Head, Wardley, Hammond (Bacon 58), Driver, D Head, Heath, Bethell, Simpson, Rowe, Boardley. Subs (not used): N Smith, Joyce, Cook, Munson.