Reading 1 Bury 1

BURY boss Stan Ternent was reluctant to accept the praise for a superb decision which saw on-loan Andrew Gray climb off the bench to hit a late equaliser for the Shakers at Reading.

"It's for other people to decide whether that was an inspired piece of management," he laughed after the game.

Reading manager Terry Bullivant had no doubt that Ternent deserved praise for putting on an extra striker at a time when his side were down to 10 men.

"He was brave to gamble, and it paid off," said a disappointed Bullivant.

Bury were reduced to 10 men because Ronnie Jepson had been sent off just 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

His two-footed lunge at Reading's Gareth Davies brought an instant red card from Portsmouth referee Mick Pierce.

"The tackle was a bit late and he did deserve to go," said Ternent.

Bury were entitled to their fifth successive draw for the way they continued to battle against the odds.

They were without broken nose victim Paul Dalglish and Peter Swan who was completing a three match ban.

But they welcomed back Paul Butler after a two-match ban and Tony Ellis returned after being ineligible for the Sheffield cup tie.

Bury had a major stroke of misfortune when Reading went ahead after 29 minutes.

Referee Pierce failed to spot a foul by Reading's Jamie Lambert and allowed play to continue as Lambert put Darren Caskey clear.

It wasn't clear whether Caskey was attempting a shot or a cross as the ball flew towards the goal, but the question became academic when it struck Bury skipper Chris Lucketti and took a wicked deflection into the net.

Five minutes after the break, Bury thought they were back on terms. Last week's FA Cup hero Andy Gray saw his corner flicked on by Lennie Johnrose. Lucketti and Gordon Armstrong came charging in at the far post and the ball ended up in the net. Bury's celebrating players were back at the centre circle waiting for the re-start before they realised that Pierce had ruled the effort out for handball by Armstrong.

Eighteen minutes from the end, Ternent gambled with Andrew Gray, in the second month of a loan spell from Elland Road, and it paid off three minutes before the final whistle.

Gray collected a long ball out of defence, beat three Reading defenders and shot low into the net.

"He's done well since he's been with us," said Ternent, "although most of the time I have started him as sub. I thought he scored an excellent goal."

Bullivant claimed that Reading were suffering a reaction to their tough midweek Coca-Cola Cup tie against Middlesbrough, which they lost to the only goal in injury time.

He pointed to the absence of Reading's midfield hard man Phil Parkinson, who made 145 appearances for Bury before joining the Berkshire side.

"We had a few youngsters in the team today and they would have benefited from Phil's experience," said Bullivant.

Bury midfielder Andy Gray Senior incurred the wrath of Stan Ternent early in the game after a scuffle with Reading's Darren Caskey.

It happened right in front of the Bury dugout and Gray appeared to lash out with his forearm in Caskey's direction.

Ternent leapt to his feet to shout at Gray, 'Do that again and I'll take you off!'

"In the first half we were poor," said Ternent. "But we stepped it up in the second half and deserved our point.

"It's not for me to say whether it was an inspired substitution to put Andy Gray (Junior) on, but he certainly took his goal well.

"I shouted at the referee to complain about the foul which helped Reading to the first goal, and he came over to the bench to have a word with me. He said he hadn't seen it."

"There was only one team in it at the end and that's the frustrating part of the day for me. We might have won the game but Reading's keeper made two fantastic saves from Tony Ellis," Ternent concluded.

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