BURY 1 READING 1: RUNAWAY Second Division leaders Reading's sequence of seven consecutive wins came to an end in a hard fought Gigg Lane encounter.

And it was fans' favourite Jon Newby that scuppered Alan Pardew's side with a fine first half goal - the first the Royals had conceded in 633 minutes of football.

Struggling Shakers opened the 21 minutes into the match when Newby got on the end of a magnificent pass from central defender Sam Collins to shoot past Ben Roberts from an acute angle.

The home side were well worth their first half advantage but Royals' boss Alan Pardew shuffled his pack at the interval and the Berkshire side were a different proposition in the second half.

Nevertheless the Shakers could have put the game beyond their visitors grasp when former Manchester United youngster George Clegg's left foot piledriver was superbly blocked by Roberts after 67 minutes.

Despite Reading having the lion's share of possession Paddy Kenny was never seriously troubled but he had little chance of saving former England international John Salako's leveller 12 minutes from time.

With a packed defence and the ball on the edge of the box there seemed little danger but Salako expertly dragged the ball from behind himself and curled a powerful right foot effort that found the net off the post.

It was a class goal from a class performer and flu-ridden Shakers boss Andy Preece, who dragged himself out of his sick bed to attend the game, acknowledged as much.

"It took one bit of magic to unlock us because I couldn't see Reading creating anything," he said.

"There wasn't much we could do about the goal, when you are facing quality players like that it's always a danger.

"If I'm honest I'd have settled for a point before the game looking at the run Reading have been on.

"But once again we started slowly and could have been a couple of goals down in the first few minutes.

"Reading began like a side full of confidence but fortunately we weathered the storm and came back at them. The conditions were difficult but we still managed to play some good stuff. I expected them to come back at us in the second half which they did but when they hadn't scored after 70 minutes I thought we might just nick it."

It was hard to pick out anyone for special praise in a fine all-round team performance but Collins and Danny Swailes were superb at the heart of the defence while Martyn Forrest's workrate in front of the back four ensured his amazing run of 15 game as skipper without a defeat was continued.

Kenny 7, Unsworth 7, Colllins 8, Swailes 8, Hill 7, Jarrett 7, Forrest 8, Borley 7, Clegg 7, Newby 8, Seddon 7. Subs not used: Reid, Whiteman, Connell, Nelson and Lawson.

Attendance: 3,667

Referee: Mr M. Jones (Chester)