Port Vale 1

Bury 0 SHAKERS manager Neil Warnock launched an astonishing attack on referee Trevor Jones after his side crashed to defeat at Vale Park on Saturday. The blazing boss labelled the official an 'amateur with a whistle' after a game in which he booked six players and awarded a crucial penalty which was duly converted by Simon Barker.

"It was a disgrace," he blasted. "You get paid to do this job. He was never a professional referee.

"He let so many blatant free kicks go. When our man Lutel James was clearly fouled on the right wing, no free kick was awarded. Vale then went up the other end and got a penalty.

"The linesman didn't see anything. He was busy smiling all through the game. I think he was on first name terms with the bench!"

The seething Bury boss was not even convinced with the penalty decision, given after Paul Williams took Tony Naylor's legs from under him in the 71st minute.

"I think 99 per cent of people would have given the penalty for the dive!" he said. "At the end of the day, we gave them too much respect. You would think Port Vale were top of the league, the amount we showed them."

Warnock had been forced to make changes to the side which drew 3-3 with Sheffield United the previous week as both Chris Swailes and Adrian Littlejohn were suspended. The loss of the latter clearly angered Warnock who claimed Oldham Athletic failed to inform him of the striker's four yellow cards when they sold him to Bury last month.

That aside, the visitors were more than a match for Vale in the opening 45 minutes. Indeed, they enjoyed the best chance with the lively Andy Preece being foiled by a fingertip save from Kevin Pilkington on 12 minutes.

Some wonderful goalkeeping by Dean Kiely kept the Shakers in the hunt in the second period, although they never threatened to trouble Pilkington again until Barker had put Vale infront.

Captain Chris Lucketti, reportedly a £1.5m target of Bradford City, saw his shot curl just over the bar with 10 minutes remaining before, three minutes into stoppage time, Nick Daws almost levelled it with a curling, long range free kick which was masterfully flicked clear of the top corner by the outstanding Pilkington. SHAKERS FORM GUIDE Kiely 8, Woodward 6, Williams 7, Daws 7, Lucketti 7, Billy 6, Barrick 7, Foster 6, D'Jaffo 7, Johnrose 7, Preece 7. Subs: James (for D'Jaffo, 70 mins), Avdiu (for Foster, 78 mins), West not used.

Attendance: 6,425.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.