MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BURY 0 ALEX Ferguson's global search for the successor to Peter Schmeichel lies right under his nose. Dean Kiely's super show kept United's slick kids at bay and brave Bury alive until two goals in the second period of extra time finally broke their resistance.

The Shakers No 1 justified his own manager's belief that he is the best keeper in Britain and Ferguson also liked what he saw, praising: "It was a good night for him. Everything we threw at him stuck in the hands and he did well."

At 27 Kiely has served his apprenticeship with distinction and on Bury's big night he proved beyond doubt that he is ready for the big time.

Time and again he thwarted Ole Solskjaer in a thrilling duel capped by a sensational one-handed injury time parry with the scores still level, a save he surpassed with a flashing stop from Erik Nevland's close range drive right at the death.

"But that was just an average game for him," commented Bury boss Neil Warnock who has slapped a £4million price tag on a precious asset he is certain is destined for the Premier League.

But this was no one-man show. Bury carried out their game plan to stifle United to perfection until Solskjaer finally found a way past Kiely with an unstoppable 20-yard rocket which flashed in off a post after 105 minutes.

Three minutes later the woodwork prevented Jonathon Greening from making it two before Nevland sealed the tie by converting Wes Brown's cross.

Skipper Chris Lucketti was again a tower of strength in a solid defensive display that always offered Bury hope of a dream victory in front a 52,495 crowd which is the biggest the club has played in front of since the war and means they will wake up today a staggering £400,000 richer.

But a huge cheque and pride intact weren't the only plus points. They also suggested they might have unearthed a gem in Hyde United triallist Lutel James whose pace and persistence made him an instant hit with the 9,000 Bury fans and caused the biggest problems for United's defence.

"To be honest I knew he would," added Warnock. "I just told him to go out there and just think he was playing for Hyde - produce all the tricks and that's what he did."

And the man who was playing non-league up until last week came within a whisker of making it a Roy of the Rovers style debut when he curled a glorious 20-yard strike inches wide just before Solskjaer's opener.

Warnock praised: "We nullified a lot of their play and it took a top quality strike to finally break us down.

"It's just a pity they changed the rules and there could be no replay. We wanted the win before it could go to penalties because we had a go at penalties in training and scored one out of 10 - and that was a mis kick.

"The lads gave a lot of heart and played to the best of their ability and I'm proud of them." Kiely 9, Woodward 8, Barrick 8, Daws 8, Lucketti 9, Redmond 8, Swailes 8, Patterson 8, K'Jaffo 8, Johnrose 8, Ellis 8. Subs: Preece 8 (for K'Jaffo 57 mins), James 9 (for Ellis 62 mins), Matthews (for Patterson 100 mins), Kenny and Foster. Attendance: 52,495.

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