IN Mansfield's matchday programme on Saturday, a contributor described the fact that the Shakers hadn't kept a clean sheet for 10 games as, incredible writes Phil Thorp

How he would have described the gutsy display that earned the Shakers a valuable point and extended their unbeaten run to six games, would be anyone's guess.

Bury boss Graham Barrow urged his side to see out the month of October unbeaten, and his players carried out his request to the letter, but it was a backs-to-the-wall performance on occasions.

After the 5-3 mauling the Gigg Lane men were dealt at Field Mill last season, and the teams propensity for shooting themselves in the foot at times, it would have been a brave man to bet on this clash ending a goalless draw.

But a mixture of superb goalkeeping and defending, wholehearted commitment and a liberal slice of good fortune, combined to keep the Shakers good sequence intact.

If the previous two games yielded disappointing home draws for the club, this one can definitely be posted under the welcome category.

With a handful of players suffering a debilitating flu bug during the week, a fact Barrow wisely kept under his hat, the point was even more richly deserved.

But more than anyone, one man played a big part in picking up the result.

Goalkeeper Glyn Garner pulled off a superb seventh minute penalty save from Colin Larkin, going on to put in one of his best performances of the season.

The prolific Stags' striker, with eight goals to his name so far this term, had already registered his intent with an earlier effort that rattled the post, and when Dave Nugent up-ended Alex Neil in the box he looked set to make up for that miss.

However, he reckoned without Garner, who dived to his left to hold onto Larkins spot kick, much to the delight of the 200 or so Bury fans behind his goal.

"There was some talk about Glyns form a few weeks ago but the faith we showed in him has paid off, he was absolutely magnificent," said Barrow.

"When your keeper saves a penalty you should get something out of a game, and thankfully we did but we had to work hard for it."

Garner's heroics served to galvanise the team who went on to give as good as they got in the first half without seriously threatening the home goal.

A half-volley by Nugent was the closest they came, but some stalwart defending by Danny Swailes, Dave Challinor and, in particular Colin Woodthorpe, ensured the home side were restricted to long range efforts.

It proved to be a different story in the second period, however, as the Stags stepped up a gear.

The introduction of winger Wayne Corden in the 54th minute gave the home side a boost, as he made an immediate impression.

In the space of five minutes the former Rochdale man put in two fine crosses from the right, the first was hooked over the bar by Dave Artell, while the second brought a brilliant save out of Garner after it was met by Neill.

Corden also struck the bar with a curling effort that, thankfully, went behind for a goal-kick.

The woodwork came to Burys rescue a second time minutes later, when a long ball down the right was collected by Larkin.

He delivered a fine ball into the six-yard box for Derek Asamoah, but the lively little striker crashed his first time effort against the bar and the danger was cleared.

Virus victims Terry Dunfield, Brian Barry-Murphy and Chris Porter, who battled bravely, were struggling to last the pace and Dave Flitcroft, Simon Whaley and Jon Newby entered the fray.

The fresh legs seemed to make a difference for a while and it began to look as though the Shakers could snatch an unlikely win as they began to break with purpose.

It was during this spell that they had a good call for a penalty turned down once again, as a Stags defender seemed to block the ball with his arm.

But, true to form this season, referee Paul Danson waved away appeals and the Shakers are still without a spot-kick of their own this season.

Predictably the home side threw everything into attack in the later stages but the defence remained solid and repelled everything.

Former Shakers loanee Joe ONeill joined the action in the final ten minutes but got little change out of the Shakers back line.

Headers from Artell and Asamoah from two Craig Woodman crosses in the last two minutes gave a slight cause for concern, but both sailed harmlessly wide as the Shakers picked up their first clean sheet for ten games.

"If you look at Mansfield's home record and our situation regarding the illness at the club its a very good point," added Barrow.

"Sometimes you have to hold up your hands and say they passed the ball better than us on the day.

"But the players gave everything theyve got, its the first time weve had to defend such pressure in the second half and I thought we came through it with flying colours."