BURY 2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 by Phil Thorp: BATTLING Bury showed they are not going to let their off-field difficulties get in the way of Second Division survival despite only drawing against the section's bottom club.

Down to ten men shortly after the break when goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was given his marching orders, Andy Preece's men went on to show their fighting qualities and only defensive frailties denied them the full three points.

The Shakers opened the scoring after 14 minutes when youngster David Borley, who signed an extended contract last week, hit a low drive that deceived the U's French goalkeeper Lionel Perez and nestled into the bottom corner.

By that time the home side really ought to have had the game sewn up with joint leading scorer Gareth Seddon having three glorious opportunities in the opening minutes.

The first arrived in the first few seconds when a long ball from George Clegg sent him scurrying clear on goal but somehow Perez stuck out a leg and diverted his goalbound effort wide.

Six minutes later Newby again fed Seddon in the box and this time he cut inside a defender and curled a right foot strike narrowly wide then five minutes after the opening goal he lashed a first time effort over the bar from just inside the box - it clearly wasn't going to be his day!

Instead of capitalising on their early authority the Shakers let the visitors - with the worst away record in England and Scotland - back into the game and they looked anything but a bottom of the table side.

Spurred on by their inspirational skipper Paul Wanless they swept forward with no little pace and skill and posed a number of questions for the Shakers back line.

Shane Tudor almost caught Kenny out with a snap 25 yard drive that cannoned off the angle of bar and post and their persistence paid off two minutes from the interval when Wanless got on the end of a fine four man move to slide home a leveller from close range.

Disaster struck for the Shakers eight minutes after the restart when Kenny raced out of his goal and upended the lively Danny Jackman.

Off went the Bury keeper for the second side this season and substitute custodian Glyn Garner took his place between the sticks, coming on for the unfortunately sacrificed Borley.

Garner did superbly well to keep out Wanless's spot kick that was destined for the bottom right hand corner and when George Clegg lashed home a second for Bury after 64 minutes it looked like being a good day after all.

However, no sooner had the cheers from the home fans died down than the visitors were back on level terms when the Bury defence failed to clear a low throw into the box and Tom Youngs was allowed the time and space to turn and crack a powerful effort past Garner.

After racing onto a deft flick from Michael Nelson, Seddon was foiled again by Perez only to be replaced by Ian Lawson minutes later.

As the game entered its final stages neither side could carve out a clear cut opening and the U's were left wondering where their first away win will come from.

Meanwhile, more importantly, Shakers fans were left pondering the future of the club and if they'll get more chances to watch their favourites after next Saturday's home clash against AFC Bournemouth. BURY FORMGUIDE Kenny 6, Collins 7, Nelson 8, Redmond 7, Unsworth 7, Clegg 6, Forrest 6, Jarrett 7, Borley 7 (Garner, 7), Newby 7, Seddon 6 (Lawson, 79).

Attendance: 3,547

Referee: Mr C. Webster (Chester-le-Street)