James Melhado and Leo Graham both on the scoresheet to cancel out former Bury man Benito Lowe’s brace for the Vulcans.

With creative players Kai Evans and Owen Robinson both missing from the lineup, Bury would have to work hard to create chances against a tough Avro team.

The visitors’ lineup, filled with former Bury players and long-standing opponents, had tormented the Shakers in battles between the clubs going back years.

Avro being the only side Bury have played at three different steps of the non-league pyramid.

Centre-back Bailey Sloane, playing as wing-back, sent an early cross into the box saved by Avro keeper Jon Vilar-Robinson.

The ‘Ro keeper was on hand again to stop a DJ Pedro shot while Sloane missed the chance to score on the rebound.

The match was feisty with Pedro and Mo Touray battling for the ball in the middle, chances were at a premium for both sides.

Leo Graham had a shot blocked by a teammate while a Rustam Stepans corner headed back across goal by Sloane just needed a finishing touch.

At the other end, Harry Salt, pouncing on a misplaced pass, tried a lob from distance and put it over the Bury crossbar.

Bury won a free kick that Stepans put over the target but it was the visitors that opened the scoring.

Benito Lowe, played in by a quick pass, powered through a number of fruitless challenges by the Bury defence and placed a shot to the top corner to give Avro the lead just before half-time.

It was a crucial time to score, changing the half-time team talks and leading Bury to make a change at the break to bring on full-back James Melhado.

Lowe, however, continued to haunt the Gigg Lane faithful, as on Avro’s first attack of the second half he broke through and beat Mitch Allen with a shot to the bottom corner.

Two goals a minute either side of the half-time break had left Bury with a mountain to climb.

The Shakers, however, did not seem deterred and soon had a goal back.

Winning a corner soon after going 2-0 down, the set-piece was lofted towards the far post and James Melhado arrived late to head in from one yard out, his first goal in white and blue.

Buoyed on by a rejuvenated crowd, Bury had the equaliser mere moments after the restart.

Good work down the left wing saw DJ Pedro cross the ball in for Leo Graham to poke past Robinson in the Avro goal, putting Bury on level terms.

From there, Bury were back in the saddle, riding the fierce challenges from Avro in the middle and asking questions of the Avro defence.

Mo Touray, firing on the turn, saw his deflected shot hit the side netting and had the South Stand on their feet.

A corner sent to the far post fell to Pedro but was placed the wrong side of the woodwork.

A cross from the right fell to substitute Tom Carr, his effort was blocked and Graham, on the rebound, shot high over the bar.

Another substitute Dom Telford got on the end of a Stepans cross but his tame effort was easily saved.

Goalscorers Leo Graham and James Melhado both tried their luck from distance.

On both occasions the Avro keeper, at full stretch, saw the shots whistle wide of the post.

Though Avro always lurked as a counter-attacking threat, if there was ever to be a winner it would be Bury to claim it.

In stoppage time a late corner caused a scramble in the box and Avro had to clear a chance off the line in the melee but the Oldham club survived.

A point in the end probably a fair reflection on both sides’ efforts.