A HOWLER from Paddy Kenny and a glaring Baichung Bhutia miss means Bury will have to win at Northwich Victoria a week on Tuesday to get any further in this year's FA Cup.
Kenny sliced a simple clearance straight to Northwich dangerman Gary Fletcher who kept his head to slot the ball home and equalise for the non-league outfit.
But Bury could have still gone through if Indian international Bhutia had converted a simple chance with only Vics keeper Lance Key to beat. Instead the striker, apparently hearing a whistle in the crowd, lazily chipped the ball wide - much to the disgust of his boss.
It meant Nick Daws superb 54th minute 30-yard free kick wasn't enough to get Bury to the next round and they now face a tricky battle to progress further.
"We had the game in our hands but Baichung missing and the ball hitting a bobble in front of Paddy has cost us," said Shakers boss Andy Preece. "Baichung told me he heard a whistle in the crowd. But I don't care what he heard, he should have gone on and put the ball in the net.
"As for Paddy I don't blame him at all. The ball hit a bobble and there was nothing he could do.
"But we're still in the cup and we've got another chance at Northwich. Our luck has to change sometime."
In truth Northwich - reaching the FA Cup first round for the first time for three seasons - thoroughly deserved to take their league opponents to a replay.
They showed no fear in coming to Gigg Lane and cheered on by 700 visiting fans showed their intent by forcing three corners in the opening 60 seconds.
The first half was drab stuff. Bury played good football but didn't really get anywhere. Bhutia missed the best opening blasting over from 10 yards while Northwich's Mark Barnard stung Kenny's hands with a piledriver from the edge of the box on the stroke of half time.
The second half was more open with both team's creating good chances but the breakthrough game from a set piece.
Barnes was fouled 30 yards out and Nick Daws curled a free kick almost as good as Beckham's in the Manchester derby earlier in the day straight into the top corner with the keeper rooted.
Northwich hit back well but when Adie Mike put a diving header inches wide just past the hour mark it looked as if their chance had gone.
But, minutes after Bhtuia suffered his "phantom whistle miss", Kenny, under no pressure, completely miskicked a harmless Steve Redmond back pass.
The impressive Fletcher - described later by his manager Keith Alexander as the best 19 year old in the country - latched on to it and curled it round the embarrassed Bury keeper into the net.
Bury upped the ante late on but the part-timers held on for a deserved draw.
Norwegian billionaire Atle Brynestad watching from the stands and reportedly interested in buying the Shakers might not have been too impressed but Bury should still fancy their chances of getting through.
The winners play Leyton Orient at home meaning there's an excellent chance of getting to round three when the big boys join in.
BURY: Kenny, 6, Unsworth 6, Reid 6, Remond 7, C Swailes 7, D Swailes 7, BILLY 8, Daws 6, Littlejohn 6, Barnes 7, Bhutia 6. Subs: Jarrett (for Bhutia 68), Forrest, Bullock, Preece, Collins. NORTHWICH: Key, Bailey, Barnard, Davis, Robertson, Burke, Norris, Simpson, Fletcher, Mike, Devlin. Subs: Rigby, Cooke, Holcroft, Poland, Walsh.
ATT: 2,884.
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