Bury 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1

SOMEONE, somewhere does not like Bury.

Only that can explain why they are not winning matches.

It feels like we're writing the same thing every week because Andy Preece's side - apart from the appalling performance at Oldham - seem to play well every game, miss a hatful of chances but always end up missing out on three points.

Against a spirited Wycombe side, reduced to ten men for 74 minutes, it was the same again.

Twice Bury struck the woodwork, there was header cleared off the line, a goal disallowed and numerous chances for the home side to win and move themselves off the foot of the table.

Somewhat predictably, they couldn't score, and now have a free weekend to try and start hitting the net in training before next Saturday's trip to Cambridge.

At least last night they got a point, their second match unbeaten. That in itself was a relief as Wycombe came back into the game in the last ten minutes and threatened to sneak a winner.

But the fact remains that a draw on Tuesday wasn't really good enough. And if Bury remain at the wrong end of the league, these two points dropped could be very costly come May.

"We should have gone on to win this game," admitted striker Jon Newby, who was desperately unlucky again not to get on the scoresheet.

"I feel like I've hit the post every game. We are desperate to get out of the bottom four and we needed to win that one."

Newby played a major part in what was the turning point of the match. Wycombe had scored early through Steve Brown's fifth minute volley after some less than impressive defending in the Bury box, first by the static George Syros and then Martyn Forrest, whose poor defensive header put the ball on a plate for Brown.

But then a long punt upfield left Newby racing clean through on goal with McCarthy at his side.

The former Liverpool striker tumbled and the referee Phil Joslin, to the surprise of just about everyone in the ground, gave a penalty. Because it was deemed a foul the ref had no alternative but to wave the red card.

Newby said: "He definitely had his hand on my shoulder. I will do anything to help us win so if there is contact I am going to go down." It was harsh on McCarthy and Lawrie Sanchez's Wycombe but the fussy official had set his stall by awarding 14 free kicks in the opening quarter of an hour and appeared determined to whistle when anyone so much as moved.

One witness claimed the referee was still blowing his whistle up to an hour after the match. What is certain is that he did not help proceedings flow.

Paul Reid wasn't distracted, confidently firing home the penalty to score his fourth of the season and put Bury back on level terms, with a one man advantage and only 18 minutes played.

The match was there for the taking. With Jarrett and Reid busy and impressive in midfield, the latter curled a 25 yard shot inches wide, Newby had a volley six yards out deflected over and Syros put a close range header into the stand.

The second half was much the same story - except worse. On 51 minutes Chris Billy - who was strangely off-form - won the ball on the right and sent in a looping cross which Wycombe keeper Martin Taylor pushed into his own net. Cheers from the home fans were short-lived though as the linesman deemed the cross had curled behind the dead ball line.

Next came the best chance of the night. Newby fired a close range shot straight at the keeper and Ian Lawson - in a race with Newby to reach the ball - somehow contrived to smash the rebound against the upright and away to safety.

And when minutes later Billy's header was hacked off the line and Martyn Forrest's superb long range effort from Paul Reid's clever corner tipped onto the bar, the Shakers faithful began to realise it was not their night. So did the boss. "I did start thinking 'this isn't going to happen'. But you've got to keep going," said Preece.

"It was a combination of poor finishing, the crossbar, post and goal-line clearances that denied us but at least we got something from the game."

And Robbie the Bobby also got something - another ban. After completing a fine array of mooning at the Cemetery End, he was ordered to stop running along the touchline by the fourth official in the second half, capping another impressive outing.

FORM GUIDE: Paddy Kenny...7

Chris Armstrong...8

Danny Swailes...8

George Syros...7

Steve Redmond...7

Martyn Forrest...7

Chris Billy...6

Paul Reid...8

Jason Jarrett...8

Harpal Singh...8

Jon Newby...7

Subs: Lawson (for Redmond, 46), Seddon (for Forrest, 79). Not used: Murphy, Borley, Clegg.

Yellow cards: Kenny (86, foul)

ATTENDANCE: 2,459 (193 visitors)

REFEREE: Mr Phil Joslin (Newark)