WE are here and we are here to stay . . . that was the message booming out of Gigg Lane on Saturday as the Shakers clashed head-on with one of their promotion rivals.

Conclusive proof - if it was still needed - that Bury truly belong in the upper echelons of the Second Division was supplied in abundance during an absorbing, heavyweight contest.

Uncompromising, well-organised Watford had won five of their previous six away games this season and came determined to add another three points to their tally. They were met tackle for tackle and shot for shot by a home side still smarting from a poor midweek performance at Millwall.

And the fact that the Shakers had to come from behind to earn their point, only added more lustre to their efforts.

There was nothing flashy about the match but there doesn't have to be for it to be hugely entertaining and when one considers that Watford were plying their trade at a level two divisions higher than Bury at this time last year, then one can easily measure the progress the Gigg Lane club has made under the stewardship of Messrs Ternent and Ellis.

The spirit within the camp was accurately summed up by goal scorer Mark Carter.

"I think we have exploded the myth that promoted sides are expected to struggle," he offered. "We were among the favourites for relegation at the start of the season but we know we are better than that.

"We have had a good start and teams are showing us a lot more respect. We have conceded the least number of goals at home in the division and if you are hard to score against then you don't lose many games. That is the strength of the side, plus the fact that we are always likely to score a goal with the players we have."

It was Carter, himself, who provided the scoring touch on Saturday although he owed a debt of gratitude to Hornets' keeper Kevin Miller. Nick Daws' 43rd minute throw from the right touchline seemed destined for the huge gloves that all keepers seem to wear these days, but Miller got too far underneath the ball and could only reach it with his fingertips. The ball dropped behind him and there was Carter to nudge home from a distance the Bury player described as "two inches".

The goal, Carter's seventh of another productive season, wiped off Watford's gloriously constructed opener.

It came in the 31st minute when right sided midfielder Darren Bazeley carved an opening near the touchline and swung over a knee high cross that set up a contest between striker Wayne Andrews and defender Chris Lucketti.

The quicksilver Andrews won the race by a matter of inches but it was just enough as he powered a near post volley past Dean Kiely's flailing left hand.

Until then there had been plenty of action but little to bother the two custodians.

Miller had been slightly the busier of the two be-gloved last lines of defence producing one smart save with his foot to deny David Pugh after a marvellous move involving incisive passes from Rob Matthews, and Carter and an outrageous, but effective and clever, dummy from David Johnson.

The Shakers had a penalty appeal turned down when Johnson's 20-yarder appeared to strike Robert Page's hand while, at the other end, Devon White nodded Watford's best chance over the bar after a delightful pass from Tommy Mooney.

Two bookings punctuated the opening 45 minutes as Page and Bury's Paul Butler earned the displeasure of referee Jones. Indeed, Page lived a little on the edge having twice pulled down the flowing Johnson.

The second half began with another yellow card being brandished, this time at Watford's Richard Johnson for a foul on Carter. The Bury player almost exacted the sweetest of revenge in the 59th minute when his far post header was blocked close to the line by Dominic Ludden.

Page got away with another misdemeanour when Matthews commendably made little of a 66th minute trip and both sides then made attacking changes in a bid to break the deadlock.

Watford withdrew the limping Andrews and Bury replaced Matthews with Phil Stant.

It made little difference to the ebb and flow, though Kiely was forced to make his first serious save of the afternoon in the 72nd minute to thwart Keith Millen then was spared more difficult action when White's backside got in the way of Gary Penrice's goalbound drive.

Tony Rigby was introduced for the tired David Johnson in the 79th minute and he hit the side-netting with a trademark long range effort. The opening came after man-of-the-match Lennie Johnrose had won another vital midfield challenge.

Six minutes from time Watford's hopes of a win seemed to disappear down the tunnel when Richard Johnson was red-carded for a second bookable offence, namely felling Johnrose from behind.

However, as is often the case, the ten-men rallied and Bury's unbeaten home record had to survive a late penalty appeal when Kiely challenged Mooney with the result that the visiting striker fell to the floor. The referee waved protests away and there was more relief for another healthy Gigg Lane crowd in the last minute when Mooney's chip was deflected narrowly wide of the target.

It was fitting that the ball drifted beyond the upright for neither side deserved to walk away empty handed from a highly enjoyable ninety minutes.

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