Goals by Rustam Stepans and Bryan Ly were cancelled out by a Glossop North End comeback as Bury had to settle for a point at home on Tuesday night.

With Bebeto Gomes not in the matchday squad for the first time this season Sam Coughlan was drafted in to play at right back. Josh Gregory still suffering a knock was also missing but the Shakers were boosted by the return of Alex Cherera, grabbing a spot on the bench after missing the last four matches playing for the Zimbabwe Under-20 National Team.

Glossop North End represented the first return fixture of the season for Bury this season and having won 4-2 at Surrey Street it was an opportunity to complete a double over their opponents.

The hosts started brightly, Rustam Stepans beat two defenders and fired a shot that was well saved by keeper Bayleigh Passant. Stepans involved again sent in a cross from the right to Bryan Ly but his shot was blocked.

Bury would continue to push for an opening goal but could not find the final touch. A Ly cross evaded both Ruben Jerome and Iyrwah Gooden while a deflected Jerome shot was pushed onto the post by Passant.

As the half went on the visitors began to create chances of their own. A slip from Bobby Carroll allowed Ollie McKay to take a shot that was just off target. Tom Lawless skipped through the Bury backline and it took an impressive save from Mitch Allen to prevent a goal for the Hillmen.

Just before the break, Bury came close to scoring once again. Gaz Peet had a rare shot that curled away from the far post and out wide. Then in the last passage of play before half-time a Stepans cross found Ly his shot was saved from point-blank range by Passant.

Though the Shakers had missed a number of chances in the first half they made up for it early in the second. A shot by Sam Coughlan was blocked by the arm of a Glossop defender and the referee pointed to the spot. Stepans stepped up to take the penalty and scored his twelfth of the season.

From there the home side were in cruise control. Coughlan slid the ball to Ly requiring an interception by Passant to avoid a quick second goal while Gooden broke through on the left wing. He squared the ball to Jerome but a last-ditch diving block prevented the Bury centre forward from scoring.

There was no reprieve later, however; a Peet cross from the left was met by the oncoming Ly who fired home to double the Shakers' advantage.

Bury’s two-goal lead did not last long. Glossop on the attack weaved their way into the box and former Ramsbottom United midfielder Conal Gallagher was left with a close-range finish he couldn’t miss.

A suddenly nervous Bury then seemed to struggle. Late on in the match the midfield seemed lethargic and were overpowered. Under pressure the defence cracked. Lewis Earl chased by Elijah Fisher tried to hook a clearance away and miskicked leaving the Hillmen substitute clear through on goal. He beat Allen to grab an equaliser for Glossop.

Faced with starting all over again the Shakers pushed hard for a winner. Jerome had a shot cleared off the line while substitute Cherera fired a shot over from a tight angle. Bury’s best chance fell to Stepans from a free kick. Faced with a long-distance set piece Bury’s top scorer went for it firing directly to goal. The thumping effort beat Passant but rattled the crossbar.

Deep into stoppage time, Bury had another penalty appeal as Passant clattered into Jerome but the referee waved away the protests. The Shakers had to settle for a draw that felt like a defeat. The point earned however was enough to raise Bury to third in the table ahead of three consecutive cup competition matches over the next week.