READING 1 BURY 1

IT'S funny what strange things can change the fortunes of a soccer club, it's just possible a dodgy team coach clutch may just save Bury's season.

At 11.30am on Saturday Andy Preece and his team were stranded on the hard shoulder half way down the M6 wondering just what else can go wrong for them in this crazy campaign as their transport ground to a halt.

But at 4.55pm all was sweetness and light in the Bury camp as an injury time goal from substitute Ian Lawson earned them a point against the Second Division title favourites even though they deserved all three.

Arriving at the Madejski Stadium less than half an hour before kick-off was the worst possible preparation for a game of this importance. With nine straight defeats behind them even Preece reckoned that there would be few punters putting anything other than a home win down on their fixed odds coupons.

But, after the grim performance at Oldham on Tuesday, the Shakers bounced back with a vengeance and showed the kind of spirit and skill that is going to be needed if they are to pull away from the bottom of the table.

And that coach trouble may have had a big say in the final result according to Lawson who was delighted to get re-open his Shakers goalscoring account on his return to the club.

"I think the situation with the coach galvanised the lads, if anything," he said. "One or two of them felt a bit stiff after the journey and we had to go straight out onto the pitch once we arrived.

"But the team spirit here is great. It's one of the reasons why I wanted to come back and the gaffer hasn't allowed us to get our heads down."

Bury's equaliser may have arrived in stoppage time but anything less would have been a travesty as they had all the best chances to pick up an unlikely win.

Both Jon Newby and Jason Jarrett had clear cut first half opportunities to fire the Gigg Lane men into the lead with Newby's effort cannoning back off the post and Jarrett's strike forcing a fine save out of Royals' keeper Phil Whitehead.

So when one moment of slackness in defence allowed Sammy Igoe the time and space to shoot past Paddy Kenny in first half stoppage time it looked like being the old, old story for poor Bury.

"There were a few rollockings at half time because they needed it after conceding that goal," said Preece. "They let themselves down and we needed to go out in the second half and put in a performance and that's just what they did."

Resorting to a back three with Steve Redmond and Sam Collins recalled to join Danny Swailes, the home side rarely got a sniff in front of goal as the Shakers back line coped admirably with anything the Royals could throw at them.

Such was their dominance that Reading's much vaunted strike force of Nicky Forster and Martin Butler were substituted long before the end, and you don't see that too often!

Swailes, who was magnificent throughout, almost got on the scoresheet at the other end with a powerful header from a Chris Billy cross that forced another good stop out of Whitehead. Harpal Singh could have opened his Bury account twice with a free kick that Whitehead palmed away and a header that full-back Graeme Murty cleared off the line.

As the clock ticked past the 90 minute mark Bury continued to throw men forward in search of the equaliser only for Royals dangerman Jamie Cureton to break free but a superb stop from Shakers' keeper Paddy Kenny saved the day. But seconds later the few loyal supporters in the away seats were dancing with joy as Lawson struck.

Jason Jarrett ran at the home defence before playing a ball wide to Singh on the left. The Leeds loan star put in an inch-perfect cross to Lawson, who had peeled away at the far post, and his first time volley cannoned into the net. BURY: Kenny 7, Collins 8, Swailes 9, Redmond 8, Billy 7, Reid 7, Armstrong 8, Jarrett 7, Forrest 8 (Lawson, 74), Newby 8, Singh 8. Subs not used: Seddon, Murphy, Clegg and Borley.

Attendance: 10,035.