Barrass strike saves Shakers

The versatile local lad earned his team-mates a share of the spoils with a second half goal, despite not being in Graham Barrow's original starting 11.

Illness to Lee Unsworth resulted in Barrass -- grandson of former Wanderers favourite Malcolm Barrass -- getting the call five minutes before kick-off.

But he made it a day to remember with only his second league goal and his first since scoring in the 4-2 victory over Burnley on Boxing Day 1999.

For the second time in five days the Shakers had to settle for a point against a team lower than them in the Third Division table, although, like LDV Vans Trophy finalists Southend on Tuesday evening,

Darlington are one of the basement section's form teams at present and were certainly much better than the team the Shakers beat 3-1 at the Reynolds Arena back in October.

New manager David Hodgson -- in his second spell at the club-- has a lot to do with that and he was left fuming in the closing minutes when referee Joe Ross disallowed what would have been a winning goal from Barry Conlon after Glyn Garner had fumbled a cross under a challenge.

After consulting with a linesman it was decided that Garner had been impeded but even Barrow honestly admitted Ross may have got it wrong."I thought Glyn should have collected the ball but sometimes you get those decisions. I would have accepted it if the goal had been given but it's something that's gone our way for a change."

Shakers failed to make any impression on the Quakers in the first half.

Darlington went in at the interval with a lead thanks to a goal from a rare attack with former Manchester City striker Barry Conlon poking home a cross from Mark Convery in the 18th minute.

Bury's best chances of scoring came from shots from midfielders Dave Flitcroft and Terry Dunfield but both skied their efforts over the bar. Referee Ross only passed the Gigg Lane pitch fit a couple of hours before the game and passing football wasn't aided by a frozen strip in front of the south stand. "The pitch was tricky but to be fair to both sets of players there were no complaints," added Barrow. "I rated it 50-50 this morning but the referee was very positive and both sets of players gave reasonable efforts in the end.

"It was a bit difficult on the far side but everyone got on with the game in the right spirit."

During the break Barrow let his team know just what he thought of the lacklustre first half showing and it was an improved display in the second period.

He sacrificed the unlucky Flitcroft for striker David Nugent early in the half, but not before Garner had to be at his best to push away a snap shot by Liddle and Conlon put a free header well wide when handily placed.

The visitors were left ruing those missed chances in the 56th minute when the Shakers got back on level terms. A cross from the right from Challinor was only half cleared by the Quakers' defence and the ball fell kindly to Barrass who lashed home a powerful effort into the roof of the net from ten yards. Buoyed by his rare goal, two minutes later the defender fired in another powerful effort from 25 yards that Michael Price in the Darlington goal had to be on his toes to deal with. There were few clear cut chances created by either side as both went in search of the goal that would earn them the extra vital two points. In stoppage time, substitute George Clegg fired in a last gasp free kick that was easy for Price while the visitors felt they suffered a further injustice when Conlon went down in the box but no penalty was forthcoming.

"We expected a tough game as we've had them watched a couple of times recently and they are one of the form teams," added Barrow.

"But I think a draw was a fair result and it,s another point towards our safety target."

BURY FORMGUIDE: Garner 6, Swailes 7, Woodthorpe 7, Challinor 7, Barrass 8,

O,Shaughnessy 6, Flitcroft 7 (Nugent 55), Dunfield 7, Kennedy 6, Seddon 5

(Clegg 67), Porter 5. Subs not used: Cartledge, Connell and Solly.

REFEREE: Mr Joe Ross (London)

ATTENDANCE: 2,766