NORWICH CITY 2, BURY 2

A CLANGER of monumental proportions from Bury-born England Under-21 keeper Andy Marshall gave the Shakers a lifeline in a game they looked destined to lose.

The error put Bury firmly back on the road to recovery after being down and out at 2-0 adrift, so Andy's proud father, and a life-long Shakers' fan, mustn't have known whether to laugh or cry.

And while it still took a superb volley from Lennie Johnrose three minutes into injury time to finally wrest a point from Saturday's long trip to Norfolk, even Shakers' boss Stan Ternent had to admit that Marshall's ghastly error played a big part in securing a 2-2 draw.

City's Welsh Under-21 Craig Bellamy had rocked the Shakers two minutes into the game when the 18-year-old striker grabbed his first ever League goal following his quick-thinking team-mate Adrian Forbes' trickery had outwitted Nick Daws.

Another of Norwich's crop of promising younger players, Forbes produced an astute pass and Bellamy strode through confidently to beat Dean Kiely with a fiercely struck low drive.

After 23 minutes Jason Peake was left in Bellamy's wake as the flourishing youngster hit the by-line and pulled the ball back for Adrian Coote to set up former Oldham winger Neil Adams for City's second.

The Canaries seemed well on course for a comfortable victory and they pinned Bury back into their own half for much of the first period.

The Shakers' best efforts at that time were limited to a high, flashing volley from Andy Gray in the 25th minute and a Chris Lucketti header from a Nick Daws long throw-in and it looked odds-on that they were heading for their second defeat in East Anglia in seven days.

But everything suddenly changed as Marshall made his embarrassing contribution shortly before the break. Johnrose's long, hopeful punt forward was easily collected by Canaries' full-back Daryl Sutch and his cushioned header towards goal looked like a comfortable catch for the England Under-21 'keeper.

But the ball somehow slipped through his hands and into the path of a surprised Tony Battersby who gratefully stroked the ball into an empty net and Bury were back in the hunt.

After the break Peter Swan, back from injury, replaced Peake and led a concerted assault on the Norwich goal but the home side held firm as the exchanges became fiercer.

Referee John Kirkby had his work cut out in a physical game and took the names of four Bury players, Hughes, Peake, Swan and Battersby, and two from the home side, Scott and Forbes.

Adams might have restored the two-goal margin on the hour but from a good position he belted a shot straight at Kiely and Bury breathed again.

The Shakers continued to battle bravely throughout the second half but it looked as though they had run out of time and ideas as the game went beyond the the 90-minute mark.

But with the referee having taken notice of his assistants and the Carrow Road faithful whistling their reminders, justice was see to be done as Bury produced a dramatic equaliser.

Gray flung a free-kick deep into the penalty area, a partial clearance sent the ball towards the edge of the penalty area and Johnrose fired a left-foot, 18-yard volley curling over a stranded Marshall to spark wild celebrations from team-mates and supporters alike.

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