BURY 1 CARLISLE UTD 1 by Phil Thorp: NO-ONE escaped blame when Andy Preece's Shakers again frittered away two vital points in the chase for the Third Division play-offs.

The players, supporters and even the Gigg Lane groundstaff were criticised as another lowly visiting side left town with a share of the spoils.

The Cumbrians are desperate for points for quite different reasons and their reward for a spirited second half fightback lifted them out of the relegation places.

Their fans' delight at the final whistle was in marked contrast to that of the home faithful who roundly booed the Shakers from the pitch - bringing a stinging rebuke from the Bury boss.

"We are one point off the play-off places with four games to go but that must be a total disaster judging by the reaction from some of our fans," he declared.

"Before the start of the season some of them must have expected us to be running away with the league.

"They have been absolutely tremendous for us all season so when it comes to the crunch we really need them to be on our side but I was disappointed in them today as the game went on."

The fans will no doubt point to the performance on the pitch as the catalyst of their frustration as once again their favourites squandered a half time lead against a team that ought to have been there for the taking.

On the half hour defender Danny Swailes should have ripped the net with a far post shot that sailed high over the bar but the Shakers fans didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough.

It was 17-year-old striker David Nugent who did the business after 33 minutes heading home after Colin Cramb had flicked on a cross from George Clegg.

That should have been the signal for more goals that would surely have killed off a spirited but limited Cumbrians side.

Yet it was the visitors who next came closest to scoring in first half stoppage time when Darren Kelly headed a Jon McCarthy free-kick against the angle of bar and post with Glyn Garner well beaten.

Fortunately for the Shakers no-one was on hand to follow up but it was a wake-up call that the visitors were not about to roll over and die.

The warning wasn't heeded as it was Roddy Collins' side that stepped up a gear after the break.

Tenacious and quicker to the ball on a bumpy surface that wasn't conducive to flowing football, they edged the second period and deservedly levelled when Dublin-born striker Ritchie Foran lashed home a fine left foot drive that gave Garner no chance.

It was a display that left Preece angry: "For some reason after half time the players decided to play the way they wanted and didn't do what they were supposed to do," he said.

"Again we had good opportunities and got in good areas but on a pitch like that you don't have the time to put your foot on the ball and go past players.

"It should have been watered all week and I'm not exactly delighted about how it has been kept!"

FORMGUIDE:

Garner 6, Swailes 6, Nelson 7, Woodthorpe 7, Connell 7, Clegg 6, Billy 7, Forrest 6, Newby 7, Cramb 6, Nugent 6. Subs: Preece (for Cramb, 76). Not used: Redmond, Dunfield, Stuart and O'Shaughnessy.

Referee: P. Joslin (Notts)

Attendance: 3,384