A GUTSY second half fightback earned Bury a deserved share of the spoils at Sincil Bank on Tuesday evening as Andy Preece's resurgent side proved they can battle it out with the best.

From Lincoln's neat little ground you get a marvellous view of the city's impressive cathedral situated on high ground about half a mile away - it's hard to imagine a bigger contrast.

While the cathedral is one of the most beautiful medieval structures in Britain and was once the tallest structure in Europe, there is nothing remotely pretty about the football that's currently being played at the other floodlit venue in the city.

The Imps were put into administration weeks after the Shakers were last season, and cash-strapped Imps boss Keith Alexander has recruited a number of former non-league performers in his side and, predictably, they play their soccer route one, tough and direct.

It may not suit the purists but what to they know about running a Football League club in such difficult circumstances.

Needs must when the devil drives, and Alexander should be congratulated that, on a shoestring, he has forged a team that will win more than it will lose in Division Three this season.

The home side's "up and at 'em" game plan looked like paying dividends in the opening minutes as their no-nonsense approach put the Shakers on the back foot.

Always looking to get the ball up front early and utilising Ben Futcher, the beanpole son of former Manchester City star Paul, at every opportunity, the home side were an awkward proposition as predicted by the Bury manager.

They took the lead in controversial circumstances when a ball launched into the box cleared both Michael Nelson and former Hyde United striker Simon Yeo.

As both players went for the ball in the six yard box, Yeo went to ground and referee Peter Walton pointed to the spot.

Yeo admitted later that he had no idea what the penalty was awarded for but that was no consolation for Bury who watched Ben Sedgemore step up to plant the ball past Glyn Garner.

Sedgemore had earlier tested the Shakers' keeper on more than one occasion as the home side continued to break with pace and power.

But gradually the Gigg Lane men began to rise to the challenge and from midway through the first half caused one or two problems for the home side.

Jon Newby should have done better following a break down the left flank but he hit a low drive straight at Imps keeper Alan Marriott.

And Bury's best opening of the half fell to Lee Unsworth in the dying seconds but his far post header from a superb Terry Dunfield ball went wide.

Whatever the Bury coaching staff said to the players at the interval certainly had the desired effect as they came out for the second period in far better shape.

Refusing to be bullied and relishing the physical contest they poured forward in search of a leveller.

Player-boss Preece set the tone as early as the 46th minute with a left foot drive that almost ended a flowing eight-pass move the best way possible.

Preece and co-striker Newby gave Marriott and his defenders a torrid time but as time ticked away it looked as though it was going to be Bury's unlucky night.

In a rare home raid Garner did superbly well to block powerful efforts from Sedgemore and Peter Gain the second cannoning off his legs to safety.

But the Shakers reaped their reward fifteen minutes from time when dogged persistence earned a penalty.

It should have been routine defending when Preece challenged Marriott to Jamie Stuart's cross into the box but the goalkeeper spilled the ball and in a vain attempt to smother it he connected with the manager's leg and a second penalty was awarded.

Preece made it two goals in four days by calmly converting the spot kick.

The Shakers looked the more likely side to grab a winner and youngster Dave Nugent on more than one occasion caused panic in the Lincoln back line with his direct running with the ball.

But in the end they had to settle for a point that extends their unbeaten record to five matches.

"I told the lads we'd have to stand up and be counted," said Preece. "But we started badly and that's why we ended up going behind.

"We had to compete, work hard and be strong and earn the right to play your football.

"But in the second half it was all one way traffic and we did really well. Really we should have won the game on the possession and chances we had.

"That said when you are behind with fifteen minutes to go you'd take a point."

The match also extended the Shakers impressive scoring sequence to seventeenth consecutive games.