Bury 1 Blackpool 1

CONSIDERING he didn't want this game to be played at all, Blackpool manager Steve McMahon left Gigg Lane more satisfied than his Bury counterpart Andy Preece.

Far from happy at referee Alan Butler's decision to give the match the all clear on an icy Gigg Lane surface, McMahon was well satisfied for a point his side hardly deserved.

"Unplayable and dangerous," was the former Liverpool midfielder's verdict on the pitch which begs the question how did the Shakers manage to play so much good football on it then?

Their ability to knock the ball around justified the north east official's decision to give the match the green light and bring in some much needed gate revenue from Gigg's biggest crowd of the season - 4,830.

From the kick off there was only one team in the game as the Shakers laughed in the face of the bitterly cold conditions and set about the job of pulling further away from the drop zone.

They should have opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Gareth Seddon, whose parnership with Jon Newby is looking more potent every game, broke free to lash home just inside the post but an assistant referee's flag brought short his celebrations.

It was a borderline decision at least but it seemed only a matter of time before the home side would break the deadlock.

Twice in the space of a minute the Blackpool goal led a charmed life with former Seasider Jason Jarrett having a powerful effort blocked by Neil MacKenzie's backside and defender Michael Nelson going close with a header from a George Clegg corner.

The first serious thing Paddy Kenny had to do in the Bury goal was to punch clear a Paul Simpson cross under pressure from former Shaker John O'Kane after 36 minutes but four minutes later he was picking the ball out of the back of the net.

An innocuous clearance by Pool goalkeeper Phil Barnes was flicked on by John Murphy and on-loan Burnley striker Andy Peyton raced clear of the Bury defence to fire powerfully past a stranded Kenny. It was the first thing the 'Padiham Predator' had done in the game and was totally against the run of play.

Jarrett, who enjoyed a fine game against his former club, went close to levelling in first half stoppage time when his header was pushed onto the post by Barnes but at the whistle not even the most ardent Blackpool fan could argue their side weren't lucky to be in front.

Nine minutes after the restart the Shakers got back on level terms thanks to full back Jamie Stuart.

Seddon laid the foundations for the goal, foraging down the right before playing a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

With the visitors defence failing to deal with the danger it broke to young midfielder David Borley who, in turn, played in Stuart and the former Charlton and Millwall man expertly fired home via the post from the edge of the box.

I was his first goal for the club and just reward for a fine display on the day.

From then on the clever money would have been on the Shakers going all the way to securing the three points but it wasn't to be.

Seddon sidefooted a brilliant chance over the bar from eight yards after good work by Newby then five minutes later, in a rare sortie into the Bury half, Blackpool gave a shivering Kenny something to warm him up when Simpson cracked a magnificent 30 yard effort that cannoned off the crossbar to safety.

But the final word ought to have gone to 'Silver Samovar' Seddon who created a great chance for himself two minutes from time, turning on a sixpence before watching his goalbound strike career off the legs of Barnes from six yards.

A winner at that time would have been the least Bury deserved from the match and boss Preece was understandably a bit unhappy at the two points dropped although not the team display. "I am slightly disappointed with the result but the performance was magnificent," he declared.

" I thought we dominated from start to finish and they only managed two shots on goal all the game.

"The pitch was a little hard but took a stud and I don't think anybody slipped on the ice.

"To be able to pass the ball around like we did - against one of the best footballing teams in our division - was great.

"It was just disappointing not to have finished the game off, we could have let our heads go down after dominating so much and then going behind but all the lads stuck to the task.

"That's why I didn't bring on any of our substitutes - even though they were itching to get into the action."

Meanwhile McMahon added: "We'll take a point from that game even though I thought the surface was unplayable and dangerous.

"We were lucky we didn't pick up any injuries but it was the same for both side and we had to get on with the job.

"Bury were fired up because of their manager's connection with Blackpool - which is fair enough - but I felt we matched them and looked the stronger team finishing."

The Blackpool boss must have been referring to his side's first corner kick of the game which arrived in the dying minutes!

BURY

Paddy Kenny...7

Sam Collins...7

Steve Redmond...7

Michael Nelson...7

Lee Unsworth...7

Jason Jarrett...7

David Borley...7

George Clegg...7

Jamie Stuart...8

Jon Newby...7

Gareth Seddon...7

Substitutes (not used): Preece, Billy, Lawson, Swailes and O'Shaughnessy.

Yellow cards: Seddon (66 mins)

Shots on target...4

Shots off target...7

Fouls conceded...12

Corners...5

Referee: Mr Alan Butler (Sutton-in-A'f'ld)

Attendance: 4,830 (1,752 Blackpool)