The two leading sides in the North West Counties delivered a Boxing Day cracker at Gigg Lane playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Bury and Ramsbottom United both enjoying spells of control underlining their respective promotion credentials.

There was only one change to the Bury lineup from Friday’s win over Chadderton with Bobby Carroll omitted from the squad and replaced in the eleven by Sam Coughlan. On the bench there was room for Morgan Homson-Smith, the summer arrival included in the squad for the first time following a lengthy injury.

Through the cold late December mist the Shakers looked to take charge. A cross from Rustam Stepans cross found DJ Pedro but the forward’s header was straight at Rammy keeper Brad Rose. Later Bebeto Gomes sent in a low ball that was flicked on by Coughlan and had to be saved at the near post.

It was Ramsbottom who opened the scoring. Courtney Meppen-Walter failing to clear his lines allowed Rhys Turner to slip the ball to Luke Sephton. Beating the offside trap Sephton placed the ball into the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead.

The early lead was not to last however, DJ Pedro received a long ball forward on the left, cut inside, and fired on goal. His shot took a deflection off the back of defender Luke Barlow and landed in the back of the net with Rose left wrong-footed.

While the Shakers had grabbed the equaliser it was the Rams who continued to enjoy much of the possession and continued to put the men in white on the back foot. Bryan Ly attempted a long-range shot that missed the target hoping that an effort from distance might not have been seen by Rose through the fog. It was however the team in red that would score the next goal.

Passing around some static Bury defending Harvey Whyte and Oscar Radcliffe between themselves split the defence apart and allowed Whyte to slip the ball into Turner who span around and shot on goal beating Allen in the Bury goal and reclaiming the lead for Ramsbottom.

Once again Bury had it all to do, Bryan Ly saw a couple of shots on target well saved by Rose while Pedro twice went for acrobatic finishes on set pieces to no avail. While the Shakers had found joy in their last outing from dead ball situations, scoring four times from them, against the organised Rams defence lead by Andy Teague they always came up short.

Into the second half the home side came out on the attack, Gomes broke in behind the Rammy defence but his cross couldn’t find a man, Nicky Adams had more luck picking out Coughlan at the far post. The Bury number 10 with far more time than he thought flashed at a chance sending it wide. Bryan Ly was fed the ball and was presented with a clear sight of goal but shot straight at Rose waiting between the sticks.

With the Rams offering little threat at the other end Bury upped the ante in attack introducing Connor Pye and Homson-Smith into the mix. Both would have decent chances, first Homson-Smith would get on the end of a Pedro cross but placed a tame shot wide. Then a Bryan Ly cross was met at the back post by Pye. Throwing himself at the chance he placed the shot just wide rippling the side netting.

With Rammy turning to strengthen their midfield rather than find another goal Dave McNabb went for broke adding both Ruben Jerome and Alex Cherera to an already swelling Bury attacking line. Through sheer numbers and force of will Bury would grab a goal back. It would arrive late on.

Stepans cutting inside in the Ramsbottom penalty area took a shot on goal that was blocked by Barlow with what appeared to be a raised arm to shield his face. The Bury appeals were greeted with the referee’s whistle and a penalty was awarded. Bryan Ly stepped up to take the spot kick and sent Rose the wrong way to grab Bury’s second equaliser of the day with six minutes left to play and the Shakers now in the ascendancy.

Bury pushed to find a late winner. Stepans saw a volley go just wide and Bryan Ly had a header that looped over and landed on the roof of the net. Stepans again had a chance cutting inside from the right but his trademark finish missed the target this time.

Time ran out on a potential final goal but in truth a score draw was a fair result on the day for both sides. Played in front of a record crowd for the North West Counties and the second biggest attendance in all Non-League football that day those watching were treated to two of the best sides in the division. In all likelihood this ongoing battle shall carry on to the end of the season, neither side able to take full advantage on the day.