A second half fight back proved too little too late for Yeovil Town as three first half strikes condemned the promotion hopefuls to defeat at already-relegated Bury.
The dismal opening 45 minutes ensured the Glovers ended their regular npower League One campaign on a disappointing note, even though their fourth-placed finish was a club record high.
James Hayter and Kevin Dawson gave the visitors hope but an equaliser proved elusive, with the Shakers earning victory by scoring three for the only time this season.
Yeovil manager Gary Johnson said: "Before they scored we had three great chances. They played with no fear, there was nothing at stake for them so they could relax a bit and they have got some players that have been around a bit.
"When you're playing with no fear you can be a bit more relaxed and take your chances. I wanted to get the game back, the boys wanted to but we weren't quite able to."
Injuries to Byron Webster (hamstring) and Nathan Ralph forced Johnson into two changes. Dom Blizzard started at left back and Lewis Young at right back as Luke Ayling kept the captain's armband at centre half.
Paddy Madden should have given the Glovers the lead with less than a minute on the clock. Having done the hard work of chasing down keeper Cameron Belford and stealing possession the division's leading score contrived to miss the open target.
The miss was punished along with static defending on five minute as Bury forged ahead. The Glovers failed to react to the second ball at a corner and Jonson Clarke-Harris was able to pick his spot through a host of statuesque visitors.
A similar lack of movement nearly brought a second goal moments later, Craig Fagan casually pouncing on to a loose ball and thumping just wide.
On 23 minutes Sam Foley raced away from the Bury back line and took a touch away from goal only to be denied by the well-positioned Belford.
Clarke-Harris responded by carving through the Glovers' flat-footed defence and saw his shot blocked by Marek Stech. He went one better from an unnecessary free kick moments later, drilling under the jumping wall and beyond the keeper.
Yeovil's afternoon went from bad to worse on 32 minutes as Nicky Ajose capitalised on Young's non-existent tackle to cut into the box and calmly slot beyond Stech.
The Glovers gave themselves a glimmer of hope on 57 minutes by pulling back a goal, Hayter's bullet header converting Ed Upson's corner at the front post.
Substitute Richard Hinds went close when he nodded wide and Foley scuffed over thanks to an unhelpful bounce at the end of a neat move.
On 83 minutes Euan Holden gained possession just inside the area but with all the goal to aim at he leaned back and spooned over.
The Glovers went straight down the end, substitute Angelo Balanta finding Dawson who could only bend the wrong side of the post.
As the game entered added time Bury had two chances to put the result beyond doubt but spurned both. A brave block kept out Tom Soares before Clarke-Harris dragged a sumptuous diagonal delivery wide with Stech an imposing presence.
Young, by now playing as a striker, did well to collect a clearance, beat Efe Sodje and then laid off for Dawson to rifle into the net.
However, the former Northampton Town man could not level when he burst through and found Belford on form.
Stech went up for the final corner of the game in search of an equaliser but was nowhere to be seen as Bury broke, replacement Gavin Williams somehow keeping out a Bury header to cap a frenetic end.MATCH STATS
Bury (4-4-2) - Belford; Ebanks-Labell, Hughes, Sodje, Worrall; Soares, Thompson, Holden, Ajose; Fagan, Clarke-Harris. Unused subs: Lockwood, Eastham, Pratt.
Goals: Clarke-Harris 5, 25, Ajose 32.
Bookings: Belford (ungentlemanly conduct), Soares (ungentlemanly conduct).
Yeovil Town (4-4-2) - Stech; Young, Ayling, Maksimenko, Blizzard; Dawson, Upson, Edwards (Williams, 74), Foley; Hayter (Hinds, 81), Madden (Balanta, 81). Unused subs: Stewart, Chainey, Emmanuel-Williamson.
Goals: Hayter 57, Dawson 90+1.
Bookings: Edwards (foul), Upson (ungentlemanly conduct), Young (ungentlemanly conduct), Dawson (ungentlemanly conduct).
Ref: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).
Att: 2,440.
