OXFORD United conceded an avalanche of goals as they were dumped out of the Checkatrade Trophy at a snowy Gigg Lane.

Sky Bet League Two title hopefuls Bury deservedly progressed to the semi-finals on a night to forget for Karl Robinson’s side.

A Simon Eastwood error gifted an early lead, but James Henry’s penalty got the visitors back on level terms.

Another defensive mistake allowed Adam Thompson to quickly restore the lead, which was extended before half-time by Byron Moore.

Substitute Samir Carruthers’ neat finish briefly hauled United back into the game, but Danny Mayor’s brace ensured the Shakers progressed with ease.

It leaves United with only one competition to focus on – survival in League One, where they slipped back into the relegation zone following Plymouth Argyle’s win against Walsall.

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United handed Ahmed Kashi a first start, while Marcus Browne also came into the side as John Mousinho and Gavin Whyte dropped to the bench.

A blizzard welcomed the visitors’ arrival, but it had been downgraded to a dusting by the time the game kicked off.

The U’s picked up where they left off in Saturday’s win over Portsmouth, dominating the early stages as the Shakers unsuccessfully attempted to play their way out from the back.

But Bury hit back to open the scoring in the 16th minute with their first shot on target.

Eastwood was carrying a knee injury and a combination of that and the snowy conditions contributed to a mistake which allowed Dominic Telford’s 20-yard shot to squirm in under his body.

United were level midway through the half, after Browne was chopped down in the box by Tom Miller.

Henry stepped up and confidently converted for his 14th goal of the season.

But parity lasted just three minutes, as another defensive error allowed the Shakers to score.

Kashi looked set to clear Miller’s long throw, but the winger appeared to duck. It came as a surprise to Rob Dickie, whose hurried header fell for Thompson to lash in a volley through Eastwood’s legs from eight yards.

Browne had one shot saved and another run ended by an excellent tackle in the box as United searched to equalise for a second time.

But Bury’s incisive passing football saw them extend the lead four minutes before half-time.

Danny Mayor played Callum McFadzean around the back of United’s defence to cross low for Moore to convert from close range.

Robinson made a change at half-time, replacing Cameron Brannagan with Carruthers.

It was the Sheffield United loanee’s first action since October, but he took just six minutes to make his mark.

Given space on the edge of the box, the midfielder steadied himself before passing the ball into the far corner of Murphy’s net.

But just as in the first half, no sooner had the visitors got themselves back into the game, they conceded.

Mayor did the damage this time, curling a shot from the edge of the box into the top left corner of Eastwood’s net.

It took the sting out of the contest and the introduction of Whyte as a makeshift striker instead of Mackie made little impact.

Any lingering doubts United had of getting back into the game were extinguished 14 minutes from time. Mayor cut in off the left flank past Jamie Hanson and Kashi before firing in his second goal of the night, via a deflection.

With the contest over, Mark Sykes was given more minutes to get up to speed, but there was little to cheer for the 101 travelling fans.

Bury (3-5-2): Murphy, Miller, Thompson, Stokes (Adams HT), Cooney, Danns, O’Connell, Mayor (Hulme 80), McFadzean, Moore (Lavery 61), Telford.

Unused subs: Moloney, O’Shea, Omotayo, Maynard.

Booked: None.

Oxford Utd (4-3-3): Eastwood, Hanson, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Kashi, Henry, Brannagan (Carruthers HT), Browne, Mackie (Whyte 65), Graham (Sykes 79).

Unused subs: Stevens, Long, Garbutt, Mousinho.

Booked: Graham, Hanson.

Referee: Thomas Bramall (South Yorkshire).

Attendance: 1,238 (101 visitors).