Notts County 2 Bury 2

BURY'S turbulent millennium campaign came to a sunny conclusion in more ways than one at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

Those shirt-sleeved Shakers fans who sang throughout the full ninety minutes of what turned out to be an entertaining end of season encounter were given a brief look at the club's future and must have been impressed by what they saw.

True to his word player-boss Andy Preece gave more of the club's up-and-coming youngsters the chance of a first team run-out and they didn't let the boss or themselves down.

Defender Steve Halford and midfielder Lee Connell made their full debuts while striker Lee Buggie also came off the bench for his first taste of Nationwide League action.

Add to that Nicky Hill (a comparative veteran after four first team games), Baichung Bhutia (five) and Martyn Forrest, Paddy Kenny and Danny Swailes who are all in their first full seasons and it might well have been rusks and Cow and Gate milk instead of oranges and tea in the dressing room at half time!

Yet it was Notts, looking to put behind them a miserable run of five straight defeats, who deservedly went into the interval holding a one goal lead courtesy of Alex Dyer. It was a mistake from young Hill that resulted in the opening goal, allowing himself to be dispossessed by the impressive Andy Hughes whose pinpoint cross was headed powerfully home via the crossbar by Dyer.

But to his credit the youngster kept his head up and went on to play a fine match, eventually setting up Chris Billy for the Shakers second goal.

"Some lads might have buckled under after making a mistake for the goal," said Preece. "But Nicky showed the strength of character we need in the side and I was delighted with that."

Only some woeful finishing by Magpies striker Duane Darby - if your life depended on him hitting the target you'd be advised to give the local undertaker a quick ring! - prevented the Shakers going further behind.

Twice he faced Kenny in one-on-one situations but could only steer the ball into the side netting for the first while his hesitancy for the second allowed Forrest to make a superbly timed challenge to avert the danger.

After a few choice words from Preece at the interval the Shakers, playing towards their own fans, came out with renewed vigour in a second half that livened up into a real end-to-end clash.

Forrest saw a close-range effort blocked by Magpies' 'keeper Darren Ward after 52 minutes while at the other end a 30-yard thunderbolt from Michael Brough cannoned off the post with Hughes squandering his follow-up shot, blasting high over Kenny's bar.

The Shakers deservedly levelled after 72 minutes with a goal that owed everything to the tenacity of Baichung Bhutia. The Indian skipper put pressure on former Manchester United star Clayton Blackmore in the corner who, in turn, played a lacksadaisical pass to goalkeeper Ward.

But, terrier-like, Bhutia refused to give up the ghost and he blocked Ward's attempted clearance before sliding the ball into an empty net for his second league goal.

A minute later the Shakers took the lead when a superb left wing cross from Hill picked out Billy rushing in from the right and his fine low volley rocketed past Ward just inside the post.

Five minutes later a shattered Bhutia left the field to a standing ovation to be replaced by Danny Swailes who formed an effective 'little and large' partnership with box-of-tricks Buggie, who came on for Barnes.

But County set up a grandstand finish by restoring parity seven minutes from time.

Substitute Mark Stallard (a regular scorer against the Shakers over the years) somehow managed to fire home off the post from a seemingly impossible angle after the Bury defence failed to clear their lines. Then that man Darby was in the thick of the action again two minutes from time when he once more failed to convert with only Kenny to beat, the Bury 'keeper superbly blocking his powerful effort from six yards.

"I was disappointed to concede the equalising goal but on reflection it was probably a fair result," added Preece.

"There were chances at both ends and I can take a lot of positive things out of the game."

BURY: Kenny 7, Billy 7, Redmond 8, Collins 7, Hill 7, Connell 7, Halford 7, Reid 7, Forrest 8, Barnes 7, Bhutia 7. Subs: Buggie (for Barnes, 73); D. Swailes (for Bhutia, 79). Not used: Linighan, Challinor and Avdiu.

Referee: Mr R. Furnandiz (Doncaster)

Attendance: 4,017