Bury battled through a fraught and tempestuous 3-3 draw with Gorton-based side Abbey Hey at Gigg Lane that left spectators with little Christmas cheer ahead of a busy festive period.

Dave McNabb named a largely unchanged team from the side that drew with Irlam in midweek with only the suspended DJ Pedro missing out. In his place Alex Cherera was preferred to Ruben Jerome as centre forward.

Both sides could have taken an early lead. A botched clearance by Abbey Hey keeper Connor Beard set Rustam Stepans through on goal, his shot however landed the wrong side of the post. Right up the other end a mix-up between Aaron Chalmers and Bebeto Gomes both trying to head clear set Joel Ankers through on goal. Keeper Mitch Allen bravely stole the ball off his foot to save a certain goal.

With Bury now preferring to play with a deeper centre midfielder just in front of the defence at the expense of a number 10 and the ruthless DJ Pedro certainly missed the Shakers' attacks in the first half largely came to nothing. It was Abbey Hey who looked the more likely to score. Jamal Crawford could have scored when a diving header sailed just wide of the post as the visitors looked to capitalise off a series of set pieces.

As it was Bury were the masters of their own downfall; losing the ball in defence they allowed Ankers to attack, he laid the ball off to the unnoticed Finlay Stanyer who lifted the ball beyond Allen and into the back of the net.

The home side tried to get back into the match but once they had the lead Abbey Hey defended stoutly. Cherera, Stepans and Bryan Ly all had shots blocked, while the closest Bury came to scoring came from a Stepans cross to Ly. Beard made an instinctive save from close range to deny the Shakers.

After the half-time break Bury came out with a renewed sense of energy and quickly put Connor Beard under pressure. The Abbey Hey keeper spilled a ball with Cherera charging him down but luckily for the visitors Bury’s number 9 could not prevent the ball from running out of play.

The pressure eventually told, Gomes got in behind the defence and pulled the ball back to Bryan Ly, he shot into the top corner beyond Beard’s reach to grab an equaliser. Bury were not content with just getting back into the match however and pushed hard for the lead.

Bury have seldom come from a goal down to take the lead this season. In fairness this is mostly due to Bury avoiding going behind in the first place but when they have the Shakers struggle to break down an opposing defence that will dig in and defend for their lives and frustrate the Bury attackers.

Gomes broke through on the right and was felled from behind as he was clean through on goal, the referee already drawing the ire of the home support only gave a yellow card. Then he frustrated Bury further as Connor Pye was brought down in the penalty box but no spot kick was awarded. Pye had a shot well saved by Beard and Bobby Carroll curled a drifting volley just the wrong side of the post.

At last Bury scored their second with a little under twenty minutes remaining. A Nicky Adams cross saw the ball fall at the far post to centre-back Aaron Chalmers who scored in his second home match running to give Bury a hard-earned lead.

Having done the hard work however, Bury wilted. Abbey Hey previously playing slowly and wasting time were on the ball and on the attack. Bury had barely touched the ball when Abbey Hey grabbed an equaliser. A quickly taken free kick caught Bury unprepared and Rhys Clooney left all alone on the right-hand side had the freedom of Gigg Lane to send a cross in. Ankers saw his initial effort saved by Allen but forced the rebound over the line for a goal that came far too easily and quickly.

Back to square one, Bury had a little over ten minutes to retake the lead, with five minutes to go it seemed like they had. Bryan Ly running into a through-ball rounded Beard and from the tightest of angles slipped the ball into the back of the net to send the home crowd wild. A second chance for the Shakers to hold onto their lead. It could have been put beyond doubt but Ly in on goal again was pushed in the back but again no penalty was awarded. Instead, Bury would have to see out six added minutes for victory.

Entering the very last minute an off-the-ball incident took the referee’s attention and by the time it was settled some four minutes passed and the drop ball Abbey Hey should have taken deep in their own half was now being taken on the halfway line. Beard, unopposed, sent a long ball forward and through a mass of players Moses Yoak leaped highest, knocking the ball beyond Allen into the goal for the latest of equalisers.