The spoils were shared between Ramsbottom United and Bury at Harry Williams Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals in either half from Harvey Whyte and Rustam Stepans ensured a 1-1 draw between two of the more in-form sides in the North West Counties.

In the early periods of the match neither side seemed to take command, both preferring to size their opponents up but it was the hosts that took the match by the scruff of the neck. Thomas Hoyle had a low shot blocked by the legs of Shakers keeper Mitch Allen before Hoyle fired a subsequent effort over the bar.

Hoyle was on hand for the Rams as they took the lead. Pouncing on a misplaced pass in the Bury defence he won the ball in the box, laid it off to the open Harvey Whyte who sidefooted a smooth finish into the bottom corner.

Bury responded taking their first shots of the match, Rustam Stepans and Cameron Fogerty both seeing good chances deflected away for a corner. The visitors would enjoy most of the possession for the rest of the half but struggled to turn this into real chances. The Rams however continued to look dangerous in their search for a second goal. Luke Sephton the chief creator seeing one shot flash across the face of goal, another blaze over the bar and a third well saved by Allen.

After the break the Shakers came out with renewed determination and quickly put the Rams defence under pressure. A Bryan Ly free kick was well saved by goalkeeper Brad Rose while an 18-yard effort by Alex Cherera was straight at the young stopper.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic the hosts responded with Luke Sephton firing wide and Gaz Peet clearing an effort off the line from a corner. Oumar Camera hit the post with a thumping shot and a minute later Bury raced up the other end and hit the post themselves from another Ly shot.

With time beginning to run out and the Shakers looking at their first defeat of the season a moment of magic from Stepans got their equaliser. With most of the team committed forward centre-back Lewis Earl was on hand to lay the ball off to Stepans. He flicked the ball over his and his marker’s head with his right foot and slammed a volley with his left when the ball came down, beating Rose in the Ramsbottom goal.

After the equaliser it was Bury who looked most likely to find the winner. Stepans again had a shot but it was well saved by Rose. The Shakers piled on the pressure in the closing stages. Dangerous crosses were sent into the Rams box but just eluded former Rams Ruben Jerome and Iyrwah Gooden looking to score against their old club.

The full-time whistle sounded bringing a tight game to a close. Either side could have won the match but perhaps both will be glad to walk away with a deserved point.