Bury 2 City 2

A stunning late goal punctured City's perfect start to 2008.

Supersub Kyle Nix looked to have sealed more January joy with a classy finish with only 11 minutes left.

But all thoughts of a third straight win were blown away by a thundering equaliser from Dale Stephens as time ticked away.

It was a goal worthy of some reward but City were left feeling that two points had slipped through their fingers.

For the neutral it must have been hugely entertaining to watch.

Especially as nobody waking up yesterday morning would have thought for a minute that we'd have had a game to watch.

So hats off to those who put the work in on the pitch. The fact that it was on at all - and the surface looked none the worse for the monsoon of recent days - was down to them.

Bury had the first shot in anger, Donovan Ricketts helping the ball over the bar after Richie Baker was given room to have a go from 20 yards.

But scoring opportunities were at a premium in the opening stages, with City's only half-chance skimming off David Wetherall's head from one of a flurry of early corners.

Both sides were trying to keep it on the deck despite the tricky conditions, which were made worse by the rain that continued to teem down.

Referee Michael Oliver's lunch-time decision to go ahead with the game seemed justified. The pitch was holding up well given the recent weather and looked in much better nick than the one City had splashed their way through at Chesterfield last month.

City had lost their way after a bright start until Joe Colbeck popped up on the left with a driving run to force a corner. Paul Evans' kick was cleared by the first defender but City maintained the pressure before keeper Jim Provett was impeded by the leaping Barry Conlon as he dealt with Lee Bullock's looping header.

Colbeck returned to the right flank and set off on another promising burst, weaving through two challenges before losing out to a third. But the young winger was full of running and the pace of City's two wide men appeared the most likely source of a breakthrough before half-time.

Bury thought they had grabbed the lead eight minutes before the break through skipper Paul Scott. The defender met Brian Barry-Murphy's corner with a close-range stab towards goal but a combination of David Wetherall and Ricketts did just enough to keep it out as the ball spun over the bar to City's relief.

The large 1,000-plus travelling army sprang to life again, hoping to raise City's game after that escape. But a casual pass from Matt Clarke on halfway set up a Bury break for Andy Bishop, which Evans dived in to halt - taking a whack for his troubles that needed treatment.

Bury looked to have the slight upper hand as half-time approached and it was all hands to the pump to clear another home corner. Danger averted, City went up the other end and struck the first blow.

Daley's cross searched for Peter Thorne but centre half Steve Haslam intervened, clearly using his arm, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

To the added delight of the City fans behind Provett's goal, it was Conlon who stepped up to take the spot-kick. He confidently stroked it away and then ran to the front of the stand to milk the applause.

Evans was in the wars again straight after the restart when he was caught late by Barry-Murphy. He was still hobbling from that challenge when he took another thump from Bishop, who escaped with a talking-to.

Ricketts turned away a drive from Baker and Scott nodded into the side-netting from the corner as Bury, who had been sent out for the second half early by caretaker boss Chris Brass, tried to pick up the tempo.

City were hunting a second to give them that breathing space. Colbeck was never going to threaten with one high and not so mighty effort but Daley forced a low save after cutting in from the left.

But then just as City had struck after a spell of Bury pressure, the visitors hit back with a sudden break.

After a mistake by Clarke, Baker's through ball picked out Bishop in full stride and the striker confidently fired home his 13th goal of the season past the helpless Ricketts.

It was the first time Bury had scored at home for five league games and they instantly went pressing for another as the busy Baker had a crack over the bar.

City thought they had restored their lead three minutes later when a free-kick was bundled home by Wetherall but the flag was up for offside against Conlon.

Thorne had been struggling with a stiff neck - Stuart McCall was toying with leaving him out - and it was no surprise when he made way for Nix, with Daley pushed up front to partner Conlon.

Bury brought on Glynn Hurst, a striker who had troubled City in the past in Stockport colours.

Bullock had been a Bury player in the more recent past, having spent two months on loan with the Shakers immediately before heading for Valley Parade. And he nearly punished his former team-mates from a Conlon knockdown, scrambling on the deck but unable to force the ball past Provett from six yards.

Conlon couldn't keep his header down as City threatened again. They were certainly playing the more composed stuff against a side who, despite their FA Cup heroics against Norwich last week, had collected only one league point from a possible 24.

Evans is desperate to break his duck since returning to the club and went close with a bending free-kick that was well held by Provett.

But the Bury stopper had absolutely no chance as City regained the lead in clinical manner with 11 minutes left.

Daley worked the ball to Nix on his left and the substitute drew the keeper before driving the ball into the far corner. It was a lethal finish from a player who has come on leaps and bounds since arriving unheralded on trial in pre-season.

Nix's fifth strike for City should have sealed a nine-point maximum return since the turn of the year. But Bury were far from finished.

With three minutes to go, they turned defence into attack and Stephens picked up the loose ball 25 yards out and released a swerving drive that beat the outstretched arms of Ricketts and flew into the net.

Now City were hanging on just for a point and Ricketts beat away a cross-shot from sub Simon Yeo as the Shakers threatened a grandstand finish.

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