It was a case of all-square in this top-of-the-table battle, although Bury had the edge for long periods while Halstead will be thankful for a point - their first home points lost since the opening day of the season in a 3-3 draw with Dereham.

Halstead will look back on a couple of chances spurned - both by Ben Cranfield - but overall the visitors gave little away throughout the game, while Halstead battled throughout, although their final ball lacked quality.

Paul Stokes went close with a shot on the turn right from the start, followed by Cranfield cleverly beating a defender only to fire into keeper Paul Cudworth's arms. Then, at the other end, Lloyd Pentney, in for Dave Walton who was sidelined with an ankle knock, pushed away a good effort from defender Pickford.

Halstead made the breakthrough on 33 minutes following their first corner. The ball was headed out to Kevin Inglis whose powerful drive was blocked by a defender's arm and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, from which Gareth Heath finished emphatically.

Bury hit back strongly with Jim Tatham leading the charge and full-back Tom Clements added to the danger with surging runs down the left, but the half-time whistle arrived with Halstead narrowly in front.

In the second half, Bury came forward strongly and with purpose, forcing several corners. And from one of these they scored an equaliser early in the half when Tatham's cross was nodded home by the unmarked Danny Cornwell.

From here on the Halstead defence had to pull out all the stops to keep the visitors at bay, but it needed a great Cudworth save to keep out a firmly struck drive from Heath.

Both sides brought on their substitutes as they searched for the winner, each side in turn not making the best use of opportunities and in the end it finished with a point apiece and Halstead probably more satisfied.

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Published Monday, January 17, 2005

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