Luton Town 1, Bury 1

LEE RICHARDSON did his best to steal the limelight from Bury's star of the show, Pat Kenny - and so did boss Neil Warnock - but neither quite managed it.

Richardson had a case. His first goal for the Shakers earned them a point to leave them a healthy seventh in the Division Two table.

And if he carries on at his present rate a contract may well be on the table for the former Blackburn, Aberdeen and Oldham midfielder.

His present club Huddersfield seem to see him as surplus to requirements, but there is no doubt there would be a place for him at Gigg Lane.

Warnock's bid to reap the applause was very much tongue-in-cheek. After watching his men battle back from behind and finish the stronger team, Warnock walked off the field alongside the man who had kept them in it and declared: "The fans were chanting 'Neil Warnock's Blue and White Army.

"I thought their applause was for me, but that's unusual, so I sent Pat back to the fans."

Kenny made a string of fine saves to keep Luton at bay until the 52nd minute and continued to stand firm after they were gifted the lead by some slack defending.

So much so that after Richardson's equaliser in the 69th minute, both Bury and Kenny grew in confidence. One incident involving the former Bradford Park Avenue keeper highlighted that.

A long ball was knocked forward into space on the edge of the Bury danger area and as a Luton substitute Stuart Douglas homed in on the ball, Kenny quickly sized up the situation, dashed from his area, leapt into the air, took off his baseball cap, held it one hand and promptly headed the ball back over the Luton man's head before donning his headgear again.

Later, when there wasn't quite so much pressure on him, he calmly chested a ball played towards him down on his chest before clearing his lines. Football League experience - who needs it?

"Pat's learning all the time and he wants to improve," said Warnock. "The rest of the lads had a day off yesterday, but Pat came in for extra training with Kevin Blackwell.

"Kevin's working him hard and he's got to take a lot of the credit for bringing Pat on so quickly."

Warnock drafted in an extra defender in Steve Redmond - his first start of the season - and dropped Andy Preece to the bench.

Chris Billy did a man-marking job on Luton striker Liam George, who had scored three goals in four games before Saturday's encounter.

Behind him the Shakers utilised three centre backs in Sam Collins, Chris Swailes and Redmond, three in midfield - Richardson, Nick Daws and Paul Reid, with Lutel James, Ian Lawson and Adrian Littlejohn the front-runners. It left Bury a little bit exposed on the flanks to say the least and Luton looked like they were going to take full advantage - particularly in the early stages.

But Kenny, in particular, and Bury, held out until the 52nd minute when Andrew Fotiadis stormed through the middle, cruelly exposing Swailes and Redmond before smashing a shot past the helpless Kenny from just inside the box.

It left the Shakers pair red-faced, but they and their team-mates soon recovered their composure and started to get a real grip on the game.

Daws was inches away from putting Bury back into in on 61 minutes, but just couldn't stretch a leg far enough to get a vital touch to Ian Lawson's flick-on in the box.

Eight minutes later, Lawson, James and Richardson combined to carve out a far more clear-cut chance and the loan star drove the ball into the left-hand corner with a fine hard, low shot after James had cut the ball back into his path superbly.

A sweet move that spurred Bury into even greater effort, and Daws went close again, only for Marvin Johnson to clear following a fine cross from Littlejohn.

That's the way it stayed and neither side can have any complaints at the outcome. But Bury will certainly be looking to go one better at Oldham on Saturday - and the signs are looking good as they seek that elusive first away win of the season.

Pat Kenny 8, Sam Collins 7,Steve Redmond 6,Chris Swailes 6, Chris Billy 7, Lee Richardson 7, Nick Daws 7, Paul Reid 7, Lutel James 7, Ian Lawson 7, Adrian Littlejohn 6

LUTON TOWN Abbey, Fraser, Watts, Doherty, Johnson, George, McLaren, Gray, Spring, Fotiadis, Taylor. Subs: Douglas (for Fotiadis, 74), McIndoe (for George, 74). Not used: McKinnon, Sodje,Tate.

REFEREE: Mr D Crick (Surrey)

ATTENDANCE: 4,633

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