Bournemouth 3 Bury 2 LAST minute of the game, the score two each and a well-deserved point almost certainly in the bag.

Almost certainly that is, if it was anyone other than Bury playing. For those who have been watching the Shakers for a while will know that nothing is certain.

Danny Swailes was harshly adjudged to have fouled Cherries sub Brian Stock, Chris Billy argued and was booked. The free kick was moved forwards 10 yards for dissent and Stock picked himself up and curled a free kick into the top corner. It was 3-2 and no time for Bury to even think about an equaliser. Once again the Shakers had contrived to lose a match they thoroughly deserved to win.

And, needless to say, boss Andy Preece was heartbroken. "As soon as they won that free kick, you could have put your life on it going in. That's the way it is going at the minute," sighed the manager.

"We've had numerous chances in the second half where we should have killed the game off.

"The free kick was their first shot on target in the second half and it goes in. When you're on a bad run you seem to get punished for the slightest mistake and that's what happened today."

Though Preece won't appreciate it, the match - played at Dorchester's Avenue Stadium on land, oddly enough, owned by Prince Charles - was an excellent spectacle with four goals in a see-saw first-half.

Jason Jarrett gave Bury the lead after just five minutes, turning in the area and beating Cherries keeper Gareth Stewart with a well-placed shot.

Bournemouth were level within three minutes. James Hayter - who scored four goals when the teams met at Gigg Lane last season - continued to haunt Paddy Kenny by beating the Bury keeper with a close range header.

On 21 minutes the home side went in front. Jarrett, enjoying an eventful afternoon, clearly pulled back dangerman Hayter inside the area. The ref spotted the offence and Warren Feeney made no mistake with the penalty.

At this point Bury were struggling. Hayter, running from midfield, was causing all sorts of problems and only three excellent saves from Kenny kept the Shakers in the match.

Eventually Preece ordered Chris Billy to do a man to man job on the midfielder. It proved effective.

Not only did it snuff out Bournemouth's attack but it also allowed Bury to push forward.

The visitors made the most of it, Paul Reid firing home a splendid 25 yard volley just before the break to level.

The second half was full of ifs and buts as Bury ran riot but couldn't score. With on loan Leeds winger Harpal Singh supplying superb crosses, Jon Newby and Jason Jarrett missed glorious chances to put Bury in front.

Preece sent on Ian Lawson, making his debut after rejoining the Shakers from Stockport, but even he fluffed his lines. With just his second touch, in acres of space and six yards out, he headed Singh's cross tamely at Stewart.

The small but vocal army of travelling Bury fans shrugged their shoulders, said c'est la vie and consoled themselves with the thought of a draw.

But, like we said, this is Bury. Bournemouth notched the winner and the Shakers fans departed for a miserable five hour journey home.

BURY: Kenny 7, Unsworth 7, Armstrong 7, Swailes 8, Syros 7, Reid 8, Billy 8, Jarrett 7, SINGH 8, Newby 7, Seddon 7. Subs: Lawson (for Seddon 55), Forrest, Clegg, Collins, Murphy. Att: 3,004