AS a singer entertained the crowd with a rendition of Nessun Dorma - the opera song translated as 'none shall sleep' - John Coleman might have been contemplating a sleepless night of his own.

The Accrington Stanley manager would have been forgiven for thinking he would have the chance to celebrate the Reds' first win since October 14 into the early hours.

Instead, Coleman could face further waking moments wondering where the next three points is going to come from, after summer target Andy Bishop salvaged a draw for Bury.

Stanley paved the way to put the ghost of Christmas past behind them when they went ahead from the penalty spot in the fifth minute.

On the back of their 4-0 hammering at Bristol Rovers on the last Saturday before Christmas, and with Rochdale earning a point at home to Wrexham in the earlier kick-off, the Reds needed a win now more than ever.

David Brown was put straight back into the starting line-up following his recall from Burton Albion, and the striker provided the experience and composure that Leighton McGivern had started to show before his untimely injury at Macclesfield two weeks ago.

For whatever reason, Brown had fallen out of favour with manager John Coleman before his brief spell back in the Conference.

At former club Hereford United in October, the 27-year-old made his first Stanley start of the season, but was loaned out soon afterwards.

However, on his return to the fold, he seemed to buzz with the kind of confidence that comes with playing first team football, zipped about the pitch causing problems for the Bury back line, and in doing so earned the penalty that handed the Reds a vital lead.

Danny Ventre's long free kick found Paul Mullin and the striker's volley was headed behind for a corner.

Joe Jacobson played the corner short to Andy Todd on the edge of the box, his shot hit Brown, and as the former Manchester United striker tried to control it, his legs buckled under Chris Brass's challenge from behind.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Todd, similarly, had no qualms about taking the penalty, deceiving goalkeeper Alan Fettis by firing it right with his right boot.

Brown might have added a second six minutes later after linking well with Todd on the edge of the box, but his left foot strike went straight at Fettis.

Ventre faced the prospect of walking a tightrope after being dubiously booked for his challenge on Dave Buchanan.

Ian Dunbavin, preferred in the starting line-up to Rob Elliot, tipped over an Andy Bishop half-chance that deflected off Phil Edwards, interrupting Stanley's flow. But that was seriously hampered when Ventre sustained a knee injury after jumping for a defensive header wide on the right.

The young fullback eventually made his way to the changing rooms on a stretcher and was replaced by Rikki Bains for not just his Stanley debut, but his first league appearance also, slotting in well at right back so as not to upset the balance of a rearguard that came under more pressure as the half wore on.

Apart from Andy Bishop looping an effort over the angle from the right of the box, though, Bury didn't really get close to getting an equaliser before the break.

Stanley upped their attacking flair after the re-start and Brown and Mullin combined to free Todd on the right of the box, his shot was charged down, Andy Procter pumped the ball back in, but Mullin couldn't aim a firm shot goalwards.

Bury, too, wanting to prove they had more in the locker, broke quickly and Bains did well to flick Buchanan's cross over.

Then, Phil Edwards covered brilliantly to deny Marc Pugh after the former Burnley youngster had sprinted on to Bishop's square pass.

Stanley responded as Todd burst forward, sprayed the ball to Brown on the right flank and picked out Procter with a low delivery. Unfortunately, with the goal at his mercy, the ball hit Procter's foot and spun away from goal and Joe Jacobson's follow-up was deflected wide.

Jay Harris put Dunbavin under unnecessary pressure when he looped the ball back to his goalkeeper.

As the ball dropped, Glynn Hurst volleyed it goalwards, Dunbavin made a superb diving save then recovered to make it a double stop in a goalmouth scramble.

The game was fast becoming an end-to-end spectacle and Mullin was unlucky to head a Harris cross just wide, then Brown headed Jacobson's centre over either side of Procter, Edwards and Robbie Williams having to produce some last-ditch defending.

Coleman rang the changes in formation when he replaced striker Brown with winger Shaun Whalley to go 4-5-1.

But it was a decision that quickly backfired as, after Whalley went for goal after sprinting from midfield but rolled a chance wide, Bury ploughed forward again to win a corner.

Buchanan's delivery was headed by substitute Matthew Blinkhorn at the far post, and Bishop beat Dunbavin with a header from close range.

From then on, Dunbavin saved the day for a second time against Bury as he produced a string of saves to deny them a late winner.