Bury 1 Boston United 1: DAVE Challinor scored at both ends to leave Bury still searching for their first Football League win over Boston.

The Bury captain headed his side in front after 10 minutes, only to nod the equaliser past his own goalkeeper Glyn Garner before the interval.

It left the Shakers without a win from five meetings with the Pilgrims.

However, manager Graham Barrow refused to be too downbeat.

"There's a lot of doom and gloom about the place and the lads are bitterly disappointed with only the draw," said Barrow.

"But Boston gave us a tough game and you know for certain with Steve Evans as manager they are going to try."

On the own goal, Barrow said: "I hope he wasn't trying a back header because we shouldn't be taking chances in there. We just had to get it out of there."

Challinor said: "I was back pedalling and couldn't get enough on the header. But it was a mix up in communications."

He headed in at the right end after 10 minutes from a Brian Barry-Murphy corner. Before then David Nugent had two good opportunities, while David Noble might have scored for Boston.

Indeed, the opening 25 minutes were full of opportunities. Chris Porter hit a post from Terry Dunfield's cross in the 15th minute while Dunfield fired just wide in the 32nd minute.

In between, Mark Greaves and Andy Kirk had shots off target as Bury looked fragile at times in their own area.

The arrival of former Nottingham Forest striker Jason Lee certainly gave Boston more threat.

Ten minutes from half-time, Boston levelled. Noble's downward header from the edge of the area reared up, and Challinor -- on the stretch -- accidentally back-headed the ball over Garner, who had strayed from his line. Bury's second-half performance was lukewarm. Not even a three-man strike force, with Jon Newby now on for Dunfield, made a difference for the Shakers.

Kirk could have won the game for Boston with 12 minutes left, but fired wide from 12 yards.

CENTRAL FIGURE: Dave Challinor beats Courtney Pitt to the ball

Bury (3-5-2): Garner 6, Unsworth 6, Swailes 7, Challinor 7,Woodthorpe 6, Kennedy 5, Dunfield 6 (Newby 60), Mattis 6, Barry-Murphy 6, Nugent 6, Porter 7 (Whaley 82). Subs not used: Barrass, Kazim-Richards, Scott.

Boston United (4-4-2): Abbey, West, Ellender, Greaves, Beevers, O'Halloran (Thompson 77), Noble, McManus (Lee 28), McCann, Pitt, Kirk. Subs not used: Strong, Bennett, Rusk.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 2,001