Exeter City's bid to make it into the League Two play-off places remains very much alive following a battling draw away at Bury.
The Grecians, who had not won on their last four visits to Gigg Lane, went into the match knowing that a defeat to their promotion rivals would put a serious dent in their aspirations of getting into the top seven with them trailing Bury, in the final play-off place, by three points going into the game having played a game more than the Shakers.
Paul Tisdale made two changes from the side that lost 2-1 at home to Tranmere Rovers last time out handing former Yeovil Town captain Jamie McAllister his debut and recalling veteran striker Clinton Morrison to the side. Christian Ribeiro and Graham Cummins dropped to the substitutes' bench as a result.
Bury started the game well, with former Grecian Daniel Nardiello turning and firing over the Exeter crossbar after a shot from full-back Chris Hussey had been deflected into his path. Matt Oakley then made the visiting supporters' hearts skip a beat as he smashed a clearance straight into Nicky Adams, which ricocheted just wide of the goal with City keeper Christy Pym beaten.
The Grecians then had the lead on 13 minutes and it was their two in-form players who provided the opening goal. Alex Nicholls, who has scored three in last three, did well to win a free-kick 30 yards out and then, when he curled a left-foot strike against the crossbar, Arron Davies was in the right place to smash home the rebound for his second goal in the past fortnight.
Bury responded with a few chances of their own and it was Hussey, on the left, who was proving a menace. First he delivered a cross from deep that Nardiello was inches away from converting and then he swung a free-kick over from the right, which dipped at the last minute to strike the Grecians crossbar.
City then switched to a back four in an attempt to see out the remainder of the first half and neutralize the threat the home side were providing down the wings. It saw Danny Butterfield move into a defensive midfield role alongside impressive McAllister.
However, just on the stroke of half-time Craig Jones got free on the right side of the pitch and swung a cross into the area where Nardiello rose above Oakley to power a header home.
Lifted by their goal, Bury came out after the break the stronger of the two teams and had two great chances to take the lead. First Tom Soares fired a shot from distance just past the post and then Andrew Tutte fired from long range. His effort bobbled up off the poor playing surface and as a result Pym could only parry the shot. Thankfully, for City, Nardiello didn't make the most of the rebound and fired over.
Moments later Tutte curled an effort just over the top and then Oakley, under pressure, gifted the ball to Mayor but, racing through on goal ,he elected to slide a pass to Tutte when he really should have struck for goal. Sensing his side were getting on top of the match though Bury boss David Flitcroft made an attacking substitution bringing on former Barnsley striker Danny Rose for full-back Craig Jones.
Tisdale responded by introducing Ryan Harley and David Wheeler for Morrison and McAllister. However, it was the home side who kept pressing, with Soares making another break from midfield, gliding past Butterfield and firing narrowly off target before Adams wasted a good chance by firing straight at Pym.
City were offering little at this stage, but grew into the game in the final quarter of an hour as substitute Graham Cummins warmed the gloves of Pope with an effort from the edge of the area.
The best chance fell to Wheeler though as he managed to race clear of the home defence on the counter. However, Bury defender Jimmy McNulty appeared to pull him back outside the box and then, just as he was about to shoot, clipped him on the heel. It stopped what would have been a very easy scoring chance for the City substitute and had manager Paul Tisdale incensed at the final whistle that his side had not been awarded a penalty.
Bury (4-4-1-1): Pope; Riley, Cameron, El-Abd (McNulty, 73), Hussey; Jones (Rose, 55), Tutte, Soares, Mayor; Adams (Hope, 76); Nardiello. Subs: Etuhu, Sedgwick, Thompson, Lainton.
Exeter City (5-3-2): Pym; Davies, Oakley, Butterfield, Moore-Taylor, Woodman, McAllister (Wheeler, 60), Sercombe, Nicholls, Morrison (Harley, 60), Nichols (Cummins, 77). Subs not used: Ribeiro, Keohane, Hamon, Tillson.
Booked: Oakley
Attendance: 3,513 (180 away).
