BRISTOL ROVERS 2, BURY 2: BURY showed more than enough character and fighting spirit to indicate they could be in for a successful season in League Two at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday night.

Any team that can pick up a point at the home of one of the division's promotion favourites, especially after having a man sent off and two penalties awarded against them, must be doing something right.

There were echoes of the double promotion side of Stan Ternent about this gritty display against a physical and direct Rovers team that have brought in some quality performers over the summer.

But Bury boss Graham Barrow has acquired a number of excellent players himself in the close season and two of them -- Dwayne Mattis and Brian Barry-Murphy were on target on the night.

The Shakers had the best start possible when they went a goal ahead after only six minutes when Mattis got on the end of a precision corner kick from Barry-Murphy to head powerfully home.

That goal stunned the home fans in the 8,705 crowd who had been expecting a repeat of their side's opening day 2-0 victory at Mansfield on Saturday. Rovers gradually began to pose problems of their own for the Shakers back line and in the strong and powerful Junior Agogo they had real trouble on their hands throughout the evening.

He scored both their goals on Saturday and but for some superb saves from Glyn Garner, and desperate defending, he would have added to his tally.

The Shakers shot-stopper pulled off a fine save from the former Barnet man after 11 minutes then performed more heroics four minutes later to push over a goalbound effort from Jamie Forrester.

But those chances apart it was the Shakers who played the more incisive football with the home side content to launch long balls up to their front two.

Graeme Jones and Mattis both had efforts saved by Kevin Miller in the Rovers goal as it seemed likely the Gigg Lane men would add to their lead but fate was to deal them a cruel blow in the shape of rookie referee Jarnail Singh.

A free-kick into the box by FA Cup finalist Robbie Ryan looked to have come to nothing when, amazingly, Mr Singh pointed to the penalty spot.

Agreed, Agogo had ended on the floor, but none of his team-mates had even appealed for a foul, however, he was adjudged to have been impeded by an unknown Bury defender and Forrester stepped up to convert the subsequent spot-kick.

It was rough justice on the Shakers who would have fully deserved a half time advantage but worse was to come on the restart.

Two minutes into the second period slack marking from a corner kick saw John Anderson force the ball home to give the Pirates an unlikely lead then minutes later they were awarded another penalty when Woodthorpe brought down the mercurial Forrester in the box.

The veteran defender was booked for his misdemeanour but was indebted to Garner who read Forrester's second penalty superbly, diving to his right to stop.

Garner's heroics were to prove a turning point in the game as the Shakers dragged themselves up by their bootstraps and had a real go. Simon Whaley replaced Matt Barrass and Chris Porter came on for Jones as they rang the changes in a bid to get themselves on level terms.

But all hopes of that seemed lost in the 63rd minute when Woodthorpe hauled down Agogo when the quicksilver striker was going through on goal and the referee had no hesitation in sending him off.

But if Rovers thought the Shakers would roll over and die they had another thing coming as they levelled matters with an early candidate for goal of the season.

After some neat interplay at the edge of the Bristol box, Porter fed the ball into the path of Barry-Murphy 25-yards out.

The talented Irishman unleashed a superb left-foot effort that fizzed into the top corner of Miller's goal giving him no chance.

Barry-Murphy's joy was tempered somewhat when he received a booking for going to celebrate his wondergoal with the 118 Bury fans who had made the trip to the West Country.

Porter himself came closest to grabbing a winner for the Shakers with a 71st minute effort that hit the side-netting.

Although the home side continued to get the ball forward by their tried and trusted route one method, the Bury defence coped admirably with whatever they could muster and were always able to launch dangerous counter-attacks of their own, usually involving Whaley.

Bury: Garner 9, Barrass 7 (Whaley 59, 7), Kennedy 7, Unsworth 7, Challinor 8, Woodthorpe 7, Mattis 8, Flitcroft 7, Barry-Murphy 8, Nugent 7 (Newby 86), Jones 7 (Porter 61). Subs not used: Duxbury and Dunfield.

Referee: Mr J Singh (Middlesex)

Attendance: 8,705