United 1 Bury 1
Attendance: 2,524 (239 away)
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Looking at United's current run without a win we can now perhaps take a more positive spin on things after a second successive home draw; we are know on a run of two matches without defeat. It may seem to some that it sounds a little too positive but after a slightly 'limp' first half performance against Bury at Plainmoor United provided a second half effort much more akin to the ninety minutes put in against Aldershot earlier in the week.
Bucks was forced into one change from the Aldershot starting eleven with Scott Rendell replacing the suspended Tim Sills in attack in an otherwise unchanged line-up.
Bury are on a good run at the moment and although the opening exchanges were scrappy, the better controlled passing moves were made by the visitors. United seemed half a yard off the harrying, aggressive pace of the Aldershot match and this left the door slightly ajar for a confident Bury side to try and take advantage. A quick break for the visitors in the eighth minute finished with Elliot shooting wide of the mark but the threat was evident. It certainly wasn't a dirty game but both teams had a player booked within the first twenty minutes; Mark Ellis for the Gulls and Cresswell for Bury, both for tackles.
United's best effort of the first quarter came when Kevin Nicholson hit a fine cross field ball to Wayne Carlisle who chested the ball down before whipping an excellent cross into the near post where Elliot Benyon got a flick header in toward goal but it was always sliding wide of the far post.
Bury should have opened the scoringwhen a good move down their left ended with Newey squaring the ball to Elliot ten yards out but the striker shot wide when he should have least tested Poke from such close range. It was a let-off for United but it didn't spark them into action and they seemed just a little flat at times. Elliot tested Poke again just after the half hour with a shot from nothing on the turn but the Gulls' 'keeper palmed the ball away before the clearance was completed.
United hadn't created much and 0-0 at the break would have left them with something to build on but it wasn't to be. From open play the Bury attack sprung into action and a nicely slid pass from Lowe released Jones who beat Poke with a quality finish across the United 'keeper from an angle inside the far post.
Goal: United 0 Bury 1 (Jones 38)
On the balance of play you couldn't really argue that Bury deserved to lead and against the wind in the second half United were going to have to regroup and up the stakes.
Half-Time: United 0 Bury 1
No changes for United at the break and a far more positive start for the Gulls. Elliot Benyon slipped into the same kind of channel that Jones adopted for the game's opening goal but the United striker's intelligent attempt at a lob over Brown was narrowly off the money and hit the side netting.
Mark Ellis was again looking dominant for United at the back and the defence had to alert because the visitors were still doing their best work on United's flanks and a goal threat was always there. United should have equalized in the 58th minute when Chris Robertson met a Nicholson corner full on but headed over the crossbar from 7 yards out. Seconds later though, United won a challenge from the goal kick and Scott Rendell headed the ball into the path of Benyon. From the angle the United striker chose the opposite side of the goal than Jones did for Bury's goal and beat Brown on his near post although he got a hand to the ball.
Goal: United 1 (Benyon 58) Bury 1
This was hopefully going to be the build up of steam that United were looking for to pressurize their guests into collapsing but to their credit Bury never looked to be satisfied with a point and kept playing their way around the pitch. United though were certainly more of nuisance to Bury than they had been in the first period and the Bury players were having less time on the ball then they had enjoyed earlier.
Nicky Wroe had a couple of sights at Brown's goal, one went wide and one was easily gathered by the Bury 'keeper but at least United were creating some positive situations. Skipper Chris Hargreaves also forced a save from Brown and although Bury won the corner count in the second half United matched them in most other areas.
The effort from United cannot be questioned and although we would all rather they take the lead in a game once in a while the character shown in coming back into games is something that should be commended. In fact, if United could just grab a lead or two in the coming weeks there aren't too many teams in League 2 who would overrun them enough to stop Bucks' men from collecting that elusive win.
Full-Time: United 1 Bury 1
United: Poke; Mansell, Robertson, Ellis, Nicholson, Carlisle, Wroe, Hargreaves, Stevens, Benyon, Rendell. Subs: Bevan, Todd, Hodges, Charnock, Thompson, Mills, Williams.
United's youth team lost their last Alliance Cup match 1-0 at home to Bristol Rovers. There will be more details on that match later.
