FA Cup Third Round: Sheffield United 1, Bury 1

GOAL hero Andy Gray paid tribute to his teammates after this superb draw at Bramall Lane in the third round of the FA Cup.

The 33-year-old, whose spectacular long range strike had given the Shakers a shock, early lead, believes his men can build on this effort and book a place in the fourth round for the first time in 12 seasons.

"We have to fancy our chances in the replay on Tuesday week," he said.

"If we battle in the same way and get a bit of luck we can do it. We are playing good football at the moment.

"What we have been lacking is a proven goalscorer. If we can get one of those then our season will really springboard."

Gray's seventh minute rocket launcher silenced the ultra-confident Sheffield camp. He received the ball after neat work from Gordon Armstrong and Paul Dalglish, who was making his first senior start for the Shakers.

From 30 yards out, his shot blasted the underside of the cross bar and flew into the back of the net, leaving Blades 'keeper Alan Kelly stranded.

Gray added: "It was nice to start the New Year with a goal. I saw the opportunity and just took it.

"I have been a bit off form of late after missing six games, but I am getting back in the groove again now. I'm feeling good."

This was a Bury performance of grit and guts as they continue to make a mockery of their lowly position in Nationwide Division One.

They looked every bit a match for the side sitting 20 places above them in the table - just as they did in the league draw at Gigg Lane last month.

Sitting pretty at 1-0, they looked to be heading for the ultimate prize of victory, only for a moment of high drama to leave the scores deadlocked at the final whistle. Replacement Jan Aage Fjortoft entered the fray on 65 minutes and, within 10 seconds, had headed home a cross from Vassilis Borbokis for one of the quickest goals by a substitute in FA Cup history.

It made for a nail-biting finale as Sheffield, with their tails up and with a vociferous crowd behind them, searched for a winner.

But there was no surrender from the brave Bury boys, indeed they continued to give as good as they got in the face of torrential rain and a gale force wind.

Mark Patterson, making his first return to Bramall Lane since joining Bury, forced a save from Alan Kelly before Lennie Johnrose tested him with a header.

For the Blades, Brian Deane came closest to snatching a second but was foiled, not for the first time, by the outstanding Dean Kiely in the Bury goal.

With seconds remaining, Gray capped a fine all-round performance by heading a dangerous-looking Fjortoft cross out of play.

Despite a host of great performances in the Bury side, it was Patterson who won the man of the match.

On an emotional day for him, he rose to the occasion to show Nigel Spackman just what he was missing.

A 13th minute yellow card for a tackle on Don Hutchison was the only blot on his copy book.

Others to join him in the referee's book were Gray and Ronnie Jepson.

Patterson said: "I wanted to come and do well. I don't think I surprised anybody. They know how I can play.

"All the lads gave a good account of themselves and we will see if we can turn them over at Gigg Lane."

A happy Shakers boss Stan Ternent added: "We created the better chances and deserved to take them back to our place.

"We are in the hat and hopefully we can get a good crowd on for the replay, which would be financially good for us.

"There is great confidence in the team. We are getting better and stronger every week."

"If we can get a few of the injured and suspended players back, we might just make the fourth round," he concluded.

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