Bury 2 Wrexham 2: IAN LAWSON came off the bench to score a goal that will do his confidence the world of good and also rescued a point for Bury on a night when they just didn't want to lose.

It looked like they were going to after just over a minute had passed. Wrexham's pacy flank man, Hector Sam, did the business on the right, outstripping the Bury defenders and firing in a smart shot from inside the penalty area.

The fans had hardly stopped talking about the resignation of Shakers' chairman and chief executive Terry Robinson the day before when Sam struck.

But there was worse to come. The struggling Welshmen went further ahead in the 21st minute when a bad back pass put Bury goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in trouble.

He dashed off his line, but only succeeded in bringing down Wrexham striker Michael Blackwood. Sam kept his cool after a lengthy delay for treatment to Blackwood and smashed an unstoppable penalty hard and low past Kenny.

So that appeared to be that. Bury were dead and buried at home against their fellow relegation strugglers, with no chairman and just 2,735 fans, 477 of which were Wrexham fans, watching them.

Enter George Clegg. The former Manchester United man cracked in a great 28th minute free kick that took a slight deflection, to put Bury right back in it.

The Shakers followed that up with a Danny Swailes header that debutant keeper Marius Rovde did well to tip over the bar ten minutes before half-time.

Bury had the better of things after the break, but they had to wait until the 85th minute for their point saver. Jon Newby had a shot blocked by Norwegian Rovde and, from the resulting corner, Lawson, who had only been on the pitch for nine minutes, headed home.

The goal earned Lawson manager Andy Preece's thanks -- and a promise to help him get back on track after a nightmare time at Stockport.

"Ian's confidence is low," said Preece. "He had a bad two years at Stockport, but we will work with him and help him get that confidence back.

"At 2-0 down you are happy to get anything out of a game. I would have hated to have lost with the chairman not being here tonight," added Preece.

"It just doesn't seem the same without him being up there in the stand.

"He sacrificed himself for the good of Bury Football Club. Hopefully, something will happen and he'll come back because no-one is missing him more than me," said Preece.

BURY: Kenny, Swailes, Collins, Unsworth, Forrest (c), Seddon, Preece, Hill, Borley, Clegg, Newby. Substitutes: Evans, Reid, Connell, Nelson, Lawson. Attendance: 2,735. Referee: Mr M J Brandwood (Lichfield).