Bury Town 2 Hullbridge Sports 2
Bury Town were denied victory by an injury-time equaliser from Hullbridge Sports centre-half Michael Agboola, during this afternoon's Isthmian League North clash at Ram Meadow.
A fantastic strike from Cruise Nyadzayo, at the start of the second half, plus a cracking late effort by Ross Crane, seemed to have earned promotion-chasing Bury another crucial win, only for the Essex visitors to poach a point on 93 minutes.
Nyadzayo struck out of the blue, inside a minute of the second half, to give Bury a deserved lead.
There seemed to be little danger when Nyadzayo turned to try his luck from 25 yards out, but his perfectly-placed rising shot flew into the top corner of the net, just under the bar.
It looked as though two points would slip through Bury's fingertips, when Emmanuel Okunja poked home an 84th minute equaliser for Hullbridge, following a set piece and a goalmouth scramble.
Back came the Blues, Crane restoring their one-goal advantage just two minutes later with a clinical strike.
However, deep into injury-time, Agboola ghosted in at the far post to head home a last ditch equaliser from point blank range, and so put a slight dent in Bury's top-five ambitions, although Ben Chenery's men remain in a good position to make those end-of-season play-offs.
Bury bossed possession and had all the chances in the first half, but lacked that killer touch in front of goal, with Hullbridge keeper Lewis Greene also making a couple of good saves.
Greene had to arch back to claw away an inswinging corner from Ross Crane on seven minutes, otherwise the cross was heading for the roof of the net.
A poor clearance by Greene, who lost his footing while attempting to boot upfield, ended with Cemal Ramadan slicing a 25-yarder wide of target - it was worth the gamble, with Greene out of position.
However, Greene made amends with a fine save to thwart Crane in the 17th minute, pushing away a goalbound shot from the Bury winger.
Five minutes later and a rasping first-time shot by Ramadan, following a neat pass from Nyadzayo, was beaten away by Greene.
Bury continued to force the pace, and pepper the target. Just after the half-hour mark, skipper Ollie nodded down into the path of Ramadan, whose toe-poked effort rolled well wide.
But after a goalless first half, the hosts took the lead within a minute of the restart, thanks to a wonder strike from Nyadzayo that flew into the roof of the net from 25 yards out.
It was the ideal start to the second half, and Hughes then headed narrowly wide at the far post from Crane's cross on 56 minutes, while Greene spilled a long-range drive by Max Maughn, only for the keeper to smother the loose ball before Ramadan could pounce.
In the 72nd minute, Nyadazyo was causing a stir again when he made room for himself on the edge of the penalty area. This time his clean strike whistled only a foot over the bar.
Hullbridge equalised with a soft goal in the 84th minute, midfielder Okunja poking home from point blank range, following a set piece routine, only for Bury to respond via Crane's excellent strike, just two minutes later.
However, the in the third minute of injury-time, defender Agboola popped up at the far post to head home a corner, and so poach a point for Hullbridge.
Squads
BURY: Barden, Maughn (sub Carden, 68), Smith, Hood, Henderson, White, Nyadzayo, Fenn, Hughes, Ramadan, Crane. Unused subs: Gardner, Cook, Bugg.
HULLBRIDGE: Greene, Homans, Rose, Allen, Agboola, Frederick (sub Walker, 62), Thompson, Okunja, Gilchrist (sub Garrett-Douglas, 79), Salmon, Wright (sub Monsheju, 67). Unused sub: Fujah.
Attendance: 342
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