Port Vale 1, Bury 1

BURY'S never-say-die attitude once again shone through like a beacon after a gloomy start to their day at Vale Park.

Behind to a self-inflicted goal after just seven minutes, Stan Ternent's battlers grafted their way back into the game and finished by far the stronger of the two sides.

To earn only a point for such sterling efforts was galling enough but to slip down the league table as well only added insult to considerable injury.

Still, there was plenty to enthuse about for the Shakers' faithful who have found themselves a new hero in the formidable shape of Peter Swan. Gigg Lane's own Mr Versatile grabbed the 82nd minute equaliser to record his third goal in five games . . . not bad for a man who is supposed to be a central defender.

Swan, once a favourite son of the Potteries, headed home his more-than-deserved equaliser eight minutes from time and set off some booing from the home fans who knew their team had been lucky to claim a point.

And it was apt it was Swan who scored. The 33-year-old was a former crowd favourite when he played for the Valiants three years ago - but they weren't singing his name this time!

Earlier, it seemed that an understrength Bury - once more down to the bare bones of the squad with Gordon Armstrong the latest casualty - were never going to score as chance after chance went begging.

It was Swan who had the first effort on six minutes when his goalbound volley rebounded to safety off defender Lee Mills.

Vale responded via Wayne Cordon who produced a brilliant cross for £500,000 record signing Gareth Ainsworth to mark his home debut with a stunning goal. The former Lincoln and Preston winger got ahead of a dithering Andy Woodward, and headed beyond Dean Kiely.

Vale followed this with another promising attack down the flanks which was almost a carbon copy but Mill's failed to connect with a free header.

Ian Hughes came to the Shakers' rescue in the 25th minute, flicking Allen Tankard's blistering drive away when it looked certain to make it 2-0.

Thankfully, that was more-or-less it. Vale's chances suddenly dried up and a catalogue of Bury misses followed.

Bury's busy top scorer David Johnson, with five goals to his credit, failed to produce a carbon copy of his effort against Man City after getting the better of former Shakers favourite Andy Hill.

He only had the exposed Paul Musselwhite to beat but this time skied the ball into the Bury supporters massed behind the goal.

That miss was the signal for Andy Gray to take over the running of the game. The 'lucky' white boots appeared all over the pitch as his slick passing and competitive challengers put the visitors firmly into the driving seat.

Gray flashed two long range efforts just wide of the target and Johnson ballooned another good chance just after the interval. Musselwhite then fumbled Tony Battersby's long range effort but Bury failed to pounce on the rebound and frustration began to set in.

Vale defenders Neil Aspin and Hill began to get their heads to everything the visitors threw into the area but it still seemed only a matter of time before the Shaker's pressure told.

Battling Nick Daws sent in a perfect 54th minute free kick to Chris Lucketti at the far post. His effort was one handedly pushed away by Musselwhite but only as far as Johnson who held his head in his hands as Vale's Martin Foyle cleared the ball off the line.

The Shakers were forcing free kicks, long throw ins and corners but couldn't find a way through. Former Vale player Ronnie Jepson came on to boost the forward line. He never scored in his playing days at Vale Park but looked determined to make an impression.

Bury did find the back of the net ten minutes from time when a disputed Gray corner was bundled over the line but Musslewhite was flattened in the melee and the referee pointed for a free kick rather than to the centre circle.

Then came a brilliant run down the wing by Johnrose. Swan was swamped by four players in the area but he towered above them to score a glorious equaliser.

The home side then fell apart as Bury continued to press but the second goal just would not come leaving the Shakers annoyed at a fifth draw of an increasingly impressive campaign. BEFORE Saturday's game, Bury boss Stan Ternent had used Port Vale as an example of the kind of established First Division club that Bury could become.

Afterwards he was left wondering how his side hadn't picked up three points.

"I think the goal was no more than we deserved," he declared. "We gave a poor goal away and the first 15 minutes we were a little iffy but after that we played very well.

"We controlled most of the game and I didn't think we were going to get one but Swanny turned up trumps and justice was done. It added a bit of spice for him scoring against his old club.

"We have got a point and we are thankful for a point away from home but with some more luck we could have had all three."

Goal scorer Peter Swan echoed these sentiments:

"We were not at the races for the first quarter of an hour but then we got out fingers out and played football," he asserted.

"We worked hard and stuck at it. I am happy with a point but we could have had more."

Vale manager John Rudge was disappointed with his team's performance:

" I feel we played into their hands. They are a difficult team to play against and they used all the strengths they have got in their team," he said.

"Ainsworth got a header to get us in front but we were never able to get anything after that."

"With the amount of balls going in from long throws, corners and set pieces there was always the opportunity that Bury would get on the end of one, and that's what happened," Rudge added.

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