Oldham 1 Bury 1 by Steve Canavan

BURY boss Andy Preece launched a blistering attack on Oldham Football Club after seeing his team denied victory by a 98th minute equaliser which prevented the Shakers moving within striking range of the play offs.

Preece accused Oldham of treating his and Steve Redmond's family with disrespect and of gamesmanship on the field. He said he ''could not wait'' to get out of the town and insinuated that he hoped Latics were relegated.

The normally laid-back Shakers boss was also fuming at referee Mike Fletcher who destroyed the game with a series of bookings, two red cards and a distinctly dodgy stopwatch.

And while Preece's comments may sound harsh, anyone who witnessed the Bury manager's day would be hard-pressed to disagree with him.

''From the start the way they've treated us is a joke,'' raged Preece, whose his wife and children, along with Steve Redmond's parents, were forbidden access to the correct section of the ground.

''We would never treat another team the way they've treated us. Whether it's because it was Steve Redmond's mum and dad I don't know but the treatment was just an absolute joke.

''The family of the manager and assistant manager are meant to sit in certain seats at every club but when we come to Oldham all of a sudden it's a different story. If we did that to Oldham when they come to our place then I'm sure we'd know about it. But if that's the way they like to run their club then so be it.

''Hopefully it won't be the case but if it does happen that we're in the same league next year then we'll offer the same hospitality that they've offered us.''

On the game and the last gasp equaliser Preece continued: ''From the start there were things going on that I wasn't happy about. During the game (Matthew) Tipton summed it up when we put the ball out because (Shaun) Garnett was injured and he throws it back in and then charges the ball down.

''I want to get out of here and hopefully I won't have to come back next year.

''As for the ref I can't comment on him and I don't want to because he doesn't deserve commenting on.''

Preece had every right to be livid after a rip-roaring derby that lurched from incident to the next.

Chris Swailes cleared a Lee Duxbury header off the line and Steve Redmond headed a Nick Daws cross inches wide before the match burst into life before half time with two red cards in as many minutes.

First Redmond walked for what appeared to be a 50-50 challenge on Mark Allott as both players went for a header. The ref said there was an elbow.

Two minutes later it was ten-a-side as Oldham's Mark Innes was dismissed for an innocuous challenge on Jon Newby. It was Innes second yellow card and even harsher than the Redmond decision.

It summed up referee Mr Fletcher who was simply atrocious, booking players left, right and centre and taking no account of a sodden pitch or the nature of the game.

Three minutes after the break the Shakers made a vital breakthrough, Newby chasing down Latics full back Scott McNiven, snatching the ball and crossing perfectly for the unmarked Colin Cramb to ram home.

Both Cramb and Newby were later substituted, the former for a head injury and Newby after turning an ankle.

Oldham pressed forward looking for the equaliser but it was the Shakers who should have finished the match off. Sub Jason Jarrett had the best chance, played a tremendous one-two with Chris Billy which took him past the entire Latics defence but with just Gary Kelly to beat he steered his shot well wide.

It was a costly miss.

The referee's assistant held up a board indicating four added minutes but Mr Fletcher had other ideas.

Some eight minutes later the ball broke to Latics Matthew Tipton on the edge of the 18 yard box and he rifled a perfect shot into the top corner.

The full time whistle went five seconds later. Preece ran on the pitch to remonstrate with the referee before leaving Oldham's ground at the earliest opportunity.

BURY: Kenny 7, Billy 8, C Swailes 8, Hill 8, Redmond 7, Armstrong 8, Reid 8, Daws 8, Forrest 7, Cramb 7, Newby 8. Subs: Jarrett (for Forrest) 7, James (for Cramb 78), Littlejohn (for Newby 90), Preece, Halford. ATT: 5,787