A superb solo goal by Alex Cherera earned Bury a point at home to a battling Charnock Richard. In a match filled with attacking intent Bury would have hoped to win it at the death but may be fortunate to still maintain their unbeaten league record after a shaky first half.

Manager Dave McNabb named an unchanged starting eleven and subs bench from the win on Saturday. Playing with two forwards up front had yielded an early goal in that match and nearly did so again in this contest.

The Shakers had a great chance to score in just the third minute. A ball over the top was headed on by Ruben Jerome to the open DJ Pedro. Pedro’s one on one shot was blocked by visiting goalkeeper Finley Ford but the follow up was up for grabs. Jerome with an open goal placed a header wide of the target. Bury would rue the missed opportunity as the rest of the first half they were under siege.

Charnock Richard began as they intended to continue with former Prestwich Heys man Matty Davies beating the offside flag to get one on one with Bury’s Mitch Allen who saved well. Then Kuda Chingwaro overpowered Gaz Peet in Bury’s own box but  the shot on goal was lacking in power.

Winger Nathan Nickeas had the ball in the Shakers net after getting on the end of a cross but the linesman’s flag was quickly raised to rule it out.

Nickeas was busy again beating Gomes to a long ball forward, forcing a block out of Ben Hockenhull with an initial shot before beating four Bury players to the open free ball in the box but fired over.

The hosts began to see more of the ball and craft some chances of their own, Rustam Stepans against his former side volleyed wide when played through by Gaz Peet. Pedro hit the side netting with a shot from a tight angle and Connor Pye saw a chance blocked after a good counter attack.

Just as it looked like Bury were growing into the match Charnock Richard scored. A huge gap in the middle of the pitch allowed a quick counter for the visitors. Matty Davies latched onto a good forward ball running onto the Bury byline. Stretching the defence he pulled the ball back to Kuda Chingwaro who finished coolly into the bottom corner.

The Shakers were lucky to only be one goal down at the break but changes were made immediately. Bryan Ly and Alex Cherera were added at halftime. The Bury midfield constantly outnumbered and overwhelmed and a sluggish attacking line were quickly addressed and from the start of the second half Bury turned the tables on the away side.

Testing the defence with a couple of early free kicks and corners Finley Ford missed a simple catch leaving Bebeto Gomes to shoot on goal. His effort was cleared off the line by a horde of green shirts who packed the area in the goalkeeper’s absence.

DJ Pedro did well to get to a ball on the byline his first time cross found Cherera who saw his shot deflected away. From the resulting corner Hockenhull had a header that shaved the top of the crossbar. Then played inside from the right Pedro shot into the side netting when many thought he would have hit the target from that opportunity.

Charnock Richard responded piling pressure  on Bury but this left them vulnerable to counterattacks. Alex Cherera stole a loose ball and played it onto Bryan Ly. He set up Pedro who saw his deflected shot go out for corner.

Bury finally broke through. Alex Cherera, held goalless since September finally broke his duck against the same side he scored his first Bury goal for. His typical surging run from halfway went unchallenged at first, then he beat two defenders, powered through into the box before slamming a shot into the bottom corner that beat Ford to secure his 10th goal of the season.

After the equalising goal it seemed Bury would go on find a second and win, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Bebeto Gomes sent in a low cross that was met by Stepans. His turn and shoot effort went wide. Lewis Alessandra on as a substitute nearly had the perfect start, played through on goal his shot was saved by Ford and the rebound was hit ferociously by Pedro over the bar.

Still on the attack Cherera then stole another loose pass in midfield and ran on the Charnock Richard defence but he was scythed down before he could take another shot. Stepans attempted a long range shot that was all too easy for Ford to save while after a scramble from a Bury corner Cherera fired a volley that was always going over the bar.

One final corner at the end of stoppage time saw the penalty area filled with players but none in a white shirt could direct a chance goalwards.

Another point has been added to the season’s tally but if not for a poor first half and some cooler finishing in the second the Shakers could have walked away with all three.