Bury had to settle for a point in their home match against FC St Helens on Bonfire night, writes James Beedie.

Fireworks going off all around on a cold still night left Gigg Lane in a state of perpetual fog. In the gloom the Shakers missed a host of chances to take maximum points from the contest.

There were few changes to the lineup from the win on Saturday. Bobby Carroll returned from a spell out of the side and was put straight into the starting eleven in lieu of the injured midfield pair of Josh Gregory and Sam Coughlan.

Bury’s first chance came from Alex Cherera breaking down the left and forcing his way into the box. His shot was deflected out for a corner. DJ Pedro got his head to the resulting set piece at the far post but placed the chance wide.

Cherera then had another opportunity intercepting a poor defensive pass from St Helens but his hastily taken shot was off target.

FC St Helens were not content to sit back and be an afterthought. St Helens forward Joe Barker slipped through unnoticed by the Bury defence and latched onto a pass into the box. His shot flashed across the stranded Mitch Allen but crept wide of the post.

The Shakers nearly grabbed the lead thanks to a super through ball by Bobby Carroll to Pedro. The Bury forward got to the pass but took a heavy touch and the ball rolled out of play harmlessly.

The Carroll Pedro connection wasn’t to be denied minutes later. Bury again on the attack Carroll using his strength pushing through the middle and put the perfect ball forward to Pedro who lifted the ball over the oncoming keeper Joe Mason for his second goal in as many matches.

It was nearly two for the Shakers shortly afterwards. Countering from a St Helens free kick Bebeto Gomes bounded down the right flank and played the ball onto Cherera who set up Connor Pye for a shot. An almighty scramble on the St Helens goal line somehow didn’t end with one of a multitude of chances crossing the line.

Bryan Ly then had a good chance when squared the ball in a good area but he could only lift a shot over the keeper and the bar.

Bury stayed on top after the break starting the second half strongly. A good ball to Ly saw him shoot on goal, Mason tipping the chance round the post.

St Helens from nowhere then grabbed an equaliser. A deep free kick looked to be easily grabbed by Mitch Allen but at the last moment the Bury keeper appeared to be bundled over and the loose ball knocked in by Barker. Bury waited for the referee’s whistle to reprieve them but it never came.

Now in search of the lead again Bury pushed hard throughout the second half but no matter how many chances they created none could beat the St Helens defence. Cherera had a good opportunity to score. Doing all the hard work to carve out a shot in the box his final effort was well over the bar.

Cherera then set up Bryan Ly to shoot, his effort was blocked by Mason. The ball came to Cam Fogerty but his shot was also blocked, this time a last ditch effort from a defender.

Heavily marked Pedro attempted a curled shot off balance. From the edge of the box the ball swirled in the air before landing on roof of the net.

Stepans then tried his effective cut inside and shoot move from the right. It was palmed away by Mason. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Gomes who had a shot blocked on the line by the last defender.

Connor Pye put in a cross from the left to Fogerty whose shot deflected out for corner. Pye got a head to the far post corner but put it inches wide. Fogerty then had one final chance blasting a low shot that beat the defence but Mason made a phenomenal save to get down low and steer the ball over the top of the bar.

Deep in stoppage time and with the Shakers now starting to fade away St Helens had a chance to claim all three points. Mitch Allen put in a reflex save from a Liam Paton rocket the rebound was met by Joe Barker but his shot cannoned off the Bury crossbar and out.

In the end it was another point gained for the home side, enough to climb up to third in the table. The Shakers will hope to close the gap on the leaders further over the next week as they start to work through the backlog of games in hand.