Over 7,000 Oxford fans welcomed their side back into the Football League but nobody had told Bury the script as they ruined the party. Goals from Lees and Lowe gave Bury all three points despite Jack Midson's goal in between.

After the 6-1 trouncing of Bristol Rovers in the previous match United had to contend with very high expectations as well as a strong and very organised Bury side who have been in and around the play-offs for the last two seasons. However they took up where they left off and should have been 1-0 up inside the first four minutes. First the hard running Green passed to an offside Heslop when the goal was there to be shot at, then Asa Hall thumped a volley straight at the keeper after a good flick on by Jack Midson.

On seven minutes more neat build up play ended with the ever dangerous Constable smashing a shot on the turn from twenty yards which rocked the crossbar with keeper Cameron Belford helpless, and Constable almost charged a Belford clearnce into the net on fifteen with the ball flying over the fence when it might have gone just about anywhere.

In between all that the elusive Andy Howarth was catching the eye on the right wing for Bury and striker Andy Bishop had bashed a header over Ryan Clarke's bar but it was such an open game that both sets of fans were enjoying the action.

In United's excellent last twelve months many players have earned the plaudits but Anthony Tonkin has simply gone about his business and been a model of consistency. Again in this game he was on hand to make two outstanding tackles inside the first twenty minutes which nicked the ball away as Bury strikers prepared to strike inside the box.

With both sides pressing a goal was on the cards and on 26 it was the visitors who took the lead with a set piece goal. Peter Sweeney swung a left footed free kick towards the left hand post where United's defence were outnumbered and outmuscled. With two men steaming in it was Tom Lees who got there first to power a hard and accurate header back across Clarke and into the far corner of the net.

It temporarily silenced the home crowd and Bishop should really have doubled the lead on 29 when he got in behind the defence but popped a lobbed effort over the bar when clear, and that was to prove costly two minutes later as United got back on level terms.

Constable was the architect with a good touch to free space inside the area. The talismanic striker had the keeper in front and defenders haring across but selflessly rolled the ball to his right where Midson calmly passed the ball into the net from eight yards for his second of the season.

It took a great save from Clarke to keep it at 1-1 a minute later as Ryan Lowe got clear once again but almost immediately Midson teed up Constable at the other end only for the striker to slice across the inviting net in front of him. It was breathless football at a terrific pace and a true reminder of the sort of League action that has been missing for four years. No 'park the bus' for Bury, just good honest attacking intent and a good game of football to enjoy.

United might have gone into the break a goal to the good but Belford saved well from Constable then was relieved to see a covering defender nod Midson's chipped effort off the line in the scramble that followed.

The second half began with a torrential downpour but no let up in the pace of the game as United won a succession of corners in front of their bellowing fans. Midson planted a right footed effort on target on 52 but saw Belford  tip his effort over the bar and for a spell Bury were under siege as well as underwater. They recovered well and saw another Bishop effort hooked wide and a shot from distance by captain Schumacher smothered by Clarke on 65, but were relieved a minute later as Heslop's strike span wide of the mark off of a trailing leg at the other end.

United switched things around after the hour to bring Sam Deering and Alfie Potter in to the action and shots began to rain in on Belford again as Batt and Constable tried their luck. Deering almost found a way through as he appeared from nowhere to lift and effort over the keeper on 73 but was denied by another of those pesky covering defenders, and then saw strong penalty appeals waved away as he aquaplaned across the box under pressure from a defender.

The danger was always going to come from a swift break, where the visitors had looked dangerous all afternoon and on 79 it was a Lowe spot for United. It came as Deering whipped in a low free kick to the Bury box which was cleared right back to Clarke. His long clearance was intended to spring United back into the Bury box but instead was headed away. With defenders stranded upfield United were left chasing as Howarth sprinted through the boggy midfield then passed perfectly for Ryan Lowe in acres of space inside the area. He dummied Clarke then passed into the gaping net to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

There was still time for the luckless Constable to hook wide from six yards on the turn and a late Hall effort to scream wide of the mark but United had failed to turn chances into goals despite the lion's share of possession.

All in all a good game for any neutrals full of expansive play and decent football even if the result was a major disappointment to the vast majority. There is clearly a step up when you rejoin the Football league but United have started with three B's: Burton, Bristol Rovers and Bury and shown everyone that they belong at this level. Now for the two W's: Wycombe and West Ham...

Att: 7,552

Away: 375

Report by Chris Williams

Fifty/50 winner: 105640,  £1, 218.50

See Highlights and video reaction in Yellow Player

See the key pictures in GALLERY