Nine-man Bury rescued a point at the death against FC Isle of Man in Douglas on Saturday evening, writes James Beedie.

A last-minute equaliser from Ben Hockenhull making the long journey across the Irish Sea a little easier for the Bury contingent.

From the very start Bury found keeping possession and building attacks a struggle. Besides a Jerome strike that hit the post ruled out for offside the Shakers looked off the pace and were easily outmuscled by a physical Manx side.

Isle of Man forward Sean Doyle had a shot on goal saved brilliantly by Mitch Allen before Adam Adebiyi fired the rebound wide. Adebiyi again tormented the Bury back line getting in behind but his shot was wide of the mark.

Up until the half hour Allen was by far the busier keeper gradually however Bury seemed to turn a corner. Alex Cherera had a shot well saved before home keeper Adam Killey pounced on the free ball to prevent a second shot.

Both Gomes and Cherera saw promising crosses narrowly miss their targets while Lewis Earl lifted a shot just over the bar.

What progress the Shakers had made towards the end of the first half was wiped away early on after the restart. Allen forced into another save palmed a chance onto the crossbar. When Bryan Ly misplaced pass it gave the Ravens a chance to take the lead. A cross from the left was met by the big centre forward Doyle who headed into the Bury goal.

Bury searched for an equaliser, Cherera had a chance but his rushed lob shot was just wide of the post, Lewis Earl had a long range shot go wide and Bryan Ly had a late free kick just miss the target.

Bury felt they had a late advantage when the already booked Callum Sherry took one liberty too many in the referee’s eyes and the Ravens player got a second yellow card for time wasting. Bury could not make the advantage stick. First substitute Andy Briggs, already walking a fine line and channelled the collective frustration of everyone at Bury received a sin bin for one complaint too many. With less than ten minutes to play it served as an effective sending off.

Then shortly afterwards a Cherera appeal for a handball saw him join his teammate on the sidelines and the tables were turned, Bury had fewer players left and the match was into stoppage time.

The desperate late onslaught continued. Centre back Ben Hockenhull found himself the most forward man and marked heavily he used his strength to fashion a final shot on goal. His chaotic effort beat Killey and rippled into the back of the net.

The frustration boiling over in the Bury stands turned into an eruption and the whole team plus the sideline staff chased Hockenhull to the joyful waiting arms of Bury fans behind the goal.