Bury 1 Notts County 1

THE fact that Ady Littlejohn - on the pitch for a mere 18 minutes - won man of the match for his point-saving goal speaks volumes about the quality of this match writes Steve Canavan

It was a dour struggle between two uninspiring teams and produced 90 minutes to forget.

Actually make that 86 minutes. For it says much about the spirit of the side Andy Preece is building that, after playing so poorly, the Shakers could easily have walked away with all three points.

One down with just four minutes remaining, first super sub Littlejohn planted a spectacular overhead kick into the top corner and then Colin Cramb missed a glorious chance to win it in time added on.

At the end though the manager admitted he was pleased with a point. ''It wasn't a good match and we were dreadful in the second half,'' Preece said.

''But it is good that we got something because after being beat by Bristol Rovers in midweek that would have been two defeats in a row and confidence can go.

''Ady got us out of jail with a brilliant goal out of nothing. He's been out of the team for a bit and it would have been easy for him to mope about and sulk. But he's kept himself fit and waited for his chance and I'm delighted he's got a goal.

''As for Cramby I thought he was going to win it for us because he spent a couple of games on loan at Notts County and it didn't work out so he was fired up for this one. But the ball hit a bobble as he went to shoot and there's not much you can do about that.''

To say this is a poor match doesn't go far enough. The best bit of the first half - aside from an early Nick Daws volley which went inches wide - was an amusing PA announcement which chastised the Bury youth team coach driver for leaving his vehicle outside the main entrance and causing an obstruction.

The second half improved but only for the visitors. Notts County, sitting just outside the play off zone and needing a win to keep the pressure on the top six, stepped up a gear and had three good chances to take the lead.

Stung

Debutantes Kevin Nicholson, signed from Northampton, and former Spurs star Colin Calderwood, on loan from Nottingham Forest, missed close range chances and ex-England international Geoff Thomas stung Paddy Kenny's hand with a wicked free kick.

But the visitors got a deserved breakthrough on 68 minutes, Danny Allsopp, signed for £350,000 from Manchester City earlier in the season, taking advantage of a calamitous defensive mix-up between Steve Redmond and Kenny to slot the ball into an open net.

On came Littlejohn to play up front with Jon Newby - who passed a fitness test just two hours before play - and Cramb but until the last four minutes it didn't seem to make too much difference.

Then Cramb neatly crossed from the left, Thomas mis-hit his clearance and Littlejohn, like a Russian gymnast, acrobatically despatched the ball into the net with a textbook scissor kick.

The Shakers produced a rousing finish and when Cramb side-stepped a defender in the six yard box and found himself face to face with County keeper Darren Ward, it should have been 2-1 and an unlikely game, set and match to Bury.

Unfortunately the terrible pitch once again took its toll and with the ball bobbling frantically Cramb hit his shot inches wide.

BURY: Kenny 6, Billy 6, Armstrong 6, C Swailes 7, Collins 6, Redmond 6, Forrest 7, DAWS 7, Reid 6, Newby 6, Cramb 7. Subs: Hill 7 (for Collins 46), Littlejohn 7 (for Redmond 72), Jarrett 6 (for Forrest 72), James, Barnes. ATT: 3,487.