NEVER-SAY-DIE BURY HOLD ON
L EE Clark was content that his Bury side came away from their derby battle with a fair point at Oldham.
Bury enjoyed the better of the first half and went close at the death through George Miller, who forced a save from home goalkeeper Connor Ripley.
Aaron Amadi Holloway went closest for the hosts in the 64th minute when his close-range header hit the base of the post from an Aiden O’Neill cross.
In the end, both sides had to settle for a point, leaving the pair precariously placed just outside the relegation zone.
“It was a tough local derby and not played on the best of surfaces, but if you can’t win you’ve got to respect the point,” said Clark.
“We played well in the first half and then Oldham made tactical changes which put us under pressure, but we finished the game strongly.
“We had chances early and late in the game, which shows that the lads were never going to give up.
“We didn’t take them, but I never criticise players for missing chances because it means they are getting into the danger zone.
“In recent games we’ve played a lot of good football, but here showed we can mix it up and do things the hard way.”
Taylor Moore hit the side-netting from an acute angle early on and as Bury pressed Ryan Lowe went down in the box unchallenged when well-placed to shoot at goal.
Paul Caddis’ shot deflected off the back of home skipper Peter Clarke and looped over the top and from the resulting corner Cameron Burgess flicked at it from inside the sixyard box with Ripley diving on top of the ball.
Oldham fought back well in a derby game played out on a poor, mud-laden pitch. Home forward Tope Obadeyi hit a shot that deflected over the bar and Amadi-Holloway then went close to breaking the deadlock.
Bury striker James Vaughan almost created a winner when nicking possession from Anthony Gerrard, but Shakers substitute Miller’s low effort from on the penalty spot was saved by the legs of Ripley.
“Bury were the better team in the first half and we were on top in the second half. It was a typical derby,” said Oldham boss John Sheridan.
“Both teams knew the importance of not losing the game. While we are at home and I expect us to win our home games, we just didn’t get going in the first half and Bury made it hard for us.
“Credit to the players again, we have got another clean sheet. The problem is, scoring goals.
“We don’t pick the right pass at times and people don’t make the right runs.
“Now is a must-win for me against Oxford on Tuesday, whereas if we had won this I would have taken a draw.”