ALAN Knill believes his side are back to their best after they came from behind to snatch a point against fellow promotion rivals Port Vale.

Efe Sodje's 81st minute header was the least the Shakers deserved after they fell behind on the half hour mark to a dubious Marc Richards penalty.

To a man, Bury stood up to be counted and they are another game closer to their ultimate goal of finishing in the play-off positions after a titanic tussle with a Vale side that was roared on by more than 2,000 visiting supporters.

And, combined with last week's victory over Crewe, it has helped Knill to put heavy defeats at Notts County and Cheltenham to the back of his mind.

“It was a really good game between two top teams,” said Knill. “I thought my players were superb from start to finish and, even though some things went against us, like the penalty award, we just got on with it and I think we were as good as we have been for a long time.

“It was a great atmosphere, it was like we were in the play-offs or it was a derby.

“I want my players to play in these types of games to see what they are like under pressure - and they were excellent.”

Knill stuck with his policy of letting players keep their shirt when they perform well as he named rookie goalkeeper Cameron Belford in the starting line-up at the expense of regular number one Wayne Brown, who was available again after suspension.

And the bold move paid dividends as the 21-year-old Nuneaton-born stopper put in another quality performance.

He was called into action as early as the fifth minute when Lewis Haldane breached the Shakers defence, only for Belford to bravely intercept his cross.

Bury had good chances of their own, with the best being when Ryan Lowe expertly brought the ball down in the area but he could only fire straight at goalkeeper Chris Martin.

Paul Scott headed wide from Brian Barry-Murphy's corner before, against the run of play, the visitors were awarded a penalty after Sodje was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area.

Richards stepped up to put Micky Adams' side in front and leave Bury with a real test of character to drag themselves back into the contest.

There have been occasions in recent weeks when Alan Knill's men have suffered from a crisis in confidence when going behind – but not this time.

They refused to buckle and should have gone into the break on level terms when leading scorer Lowe, unmarked in the six-yard box, headed straight at the keeper from another fantastic Mike Jones cross.

Bury dominated possession in the second half without creating too many real chances of note and the tie looked to be slipping away from their grasp before Sodje's timely intervention.

The Nigerian defender rose highest in the area to plant Barry-Murphy's dangerous corner into the back of the net.

Vale, who desperately needed a victory to keep their fading promotion hopes alive, refused to lie down and could have won the game two minutes later when Louis Dodds raced through on goal.

However, flying winger Jones, epitomising the spirit of the home side, timed a challenge to perfection in the penalty area to deny the Vale substitute and preserve a valuable point.

Sodje had another late header saved and Knill was full of praise for the 37-year-old after the game.

“Sodje is a big game player,” the manager enthused. “He did the same for us at Aldershot away earlier this season, and at Rotherham last year.

“As soon as he put his head on it, we knew it was going in.

“We have unbelievable delivery in the team and it is just a case of our players showing they want to win it and head it. Thankfully, Sodje did just that.”

Bury: Belford 8, Scott 7, Cresswell 7, Sodje 8, Buchanan 7, Worrall 7 (Poole 6, 73), Dawson 8, Barry-Murphy 8, Jones 8, Lowe 6 (Carlton 6, 89), Morrell 7 (Bishop 6, 65). Subs not used: Brown, Racchi, Elliott, Newey.

Port Vale: Martin 7, Collins 7, McCombe 7, Owen 7, K Taylor 7, Haldane 7 (Rigg 6, 79), Griffith 6, Loft 7, R Taylor 6 (Dodds 6, 73), Davies 7, Richards 7. Subs not used: Lloyd-Weston, Yates, Fraser, Molyneux, Morsy.

Attendance: 4,570 (2,001 Port Vale fans)

Referee: David Foster (Newcastle)