Port Vale 1 Bury 1 by Steve Canavan WHEN Bury's Sam Collins and Paddy Kenny embraced at the end of this bruising encounter it had little to do with the Shakers grabbing a hard-earned point.

The two were making up for an on-pitch scrap just before half time which nearly ended with the pair of them being dismissed.

Fortunately the referee simply warned them and after Andy Preece gave them a rollocking at half time the pair were best of mates again.

Even the Collins-Kenny drama - which occured after a defensive mix up - couldn't spoil another sterling Shakers performance which saw loan boy Colin Cramb score his first goal for the club to leave Bury five games unbeaten and Andy Preece in the running for his first manager of the month award.

However, the boss was far from pleased with the on-pitch antics of his defender and goalkeeper.

''I can't say I was happy with their behaviour,'' said Preece, ''It doesn't matter if it's two players on the same side, the referee can still send them off. I'd be happier if they were having a go at the opposition rather than each other.

''But these things happen in the heat of the moment. We'd just conceded a goal and maybe that contributed to them being so angry with each other.''

The incident was a shame because Kenny and Collins were the two best players on the pitch.

Kenny made some tremendous saves, none better than three minutes into stoppage time when he somehow palmed away a point blank range strike from Port Vale substitute Stephen Brooker.

And Collins was a rock in the centre of defence, supplying Jon Newby with a fabulous 50-yard pass in the build up to the all-important equaliser. Newby crossed to Cramb who turned a defender and calmly curled a right foot shot into the corner from close range.

That 56th minute strike levelled the match after Port Vale had taken the lead two minutes before the break, the grandly-named Mark Bridge-Wilkinson brilliantly volleying into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Port Vale, fighting for their Second Division lives, had the better of the first half when Michael Cummins, Onandi Lowe and Alex Smith all had good chances to score.

But it was Bury who had the best opportunity of them all. Newby broke clean through on 22 minutes but, with Cramb in bags of space to his side, he opted to shoot and was unlucky to see his right foot effort rebound off the post to safety.

The Shakers dominated the second period and on a pudding of a pitch Martyn Forrest and Newby both missed good chances to win it.

However, with Kenny pulling off his injury time wonder save, a draw was just about the right result.

''I'm happy with a point,'' admitted Bury boss Preece. ''There's not a lot we could do about their goal because it was such a great strike.

''Cramby did great and showed excellent composure to get his goal and it was a little bit disappointing that we didn't go on to get a winner. But the last kick of the game Paddy pulled out a world class save so overall we've got to be happy with a point.''

And what chance the manager of the month award winging its way to Preece's Gigg Lane office?

''I don't know about that and besides it will probably be the kiss of death,'' joked Preece.

''If we did get some sort of award it would be great. It would be good for the lads and the club. But I would've thought there's a few other teams that have done well this month who will be up for it. It depends who they think is doing the best job.''

BURY: KENNY 9, Billy 7, Armstrong 8, Collins 8, C Swailes 7, Redmond 7, Daws 7, Reid 7, Forrest 7, Cramb 7, Newby 7. Subs: Barnes, Preece, James, Jarrett, Hill. Att: 4,331.