A see-saw game at Gigg Lane saw both the Imps and Bury surrender an advantage before being forced to settle for a share of the spoils following an entertaining League 2 encounter.

City fell a goal down early on when Andy Bishop headed in a far post corner but City rallied and deservedly drew level eight minutes before the break when Jamie Forrester slid hom his 16th of the season.

On a difficult playing surface that cut up badly the longer the game went on, the Imps played some excellent stuff in patches and edged themselves ahead when Lee Frecklington brilliantly headed in a Ryan Amoo centre as the clock showed 76 minutes.

Two minutes later, though, City were undone by another corner as substitute John Fitzgerald met Brian Barry-Murphy's delivery at the near post to net with his first touch of the game.

Bury then rattled the woodwork twice as they went in search of a late winner but in the end an entertaining affair finished all-square.

Paul Mayo crosses for Jamie Forrester to net City's first

Match report by John Vickers at Gigg Lane:

With Mark Stallard watching from the stands due to a one-match suspension, in came Spencer Weir-Daley for his first start since joining the Imps on loan from Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day.

Whilst this was the only change to the starting line-up, there were a couple of changes on the bench with Paul Morgan back from suspension to replace Richard Kell whilst Weir-Daley's promotion saw fit-again Leon Mettam return to the fold alongside Colin Cryan, Owain Warlow and goalkeeper Simon Rayner.

There was a strong wind and a distinct chill in the air as the teams made their way out on to what looked to be a very damp playing surface underneath the heavy sprinkling of sand that lay on top following the work carried out by the groundstaff ahead of the game to ensure it went ahead as planned.

Referee Carl Boyeson passed the pitch fit at 9.00am so now, six hours later, it was game on as the Imps looked to avenge the 2-0 reverse at Sincil Bank earlier in the season.

City kicked off and were quickly on the attack when Lee Frecklington latched on to a Spencer Weir-Daley flick on before being impeded by Dave Challinor as he flicked the ball over his head. Referee Boyeson waved play on though, despite Frecklington being unable to pick out Ryan Amoo on the right hand edge of the box.

Bury's response saw goalkeeper Alan Fettis pump a clearance forward and with the aid of the wind it found its way to the feet of Glynn Hurst just inside the City box. Hurst turned before firing goalwards and Alan Marriott, making his 300th League game for the Imps, tipped the ball behind for the afternoon's first corner.

When the corner came in it was a deep one over a packed area from Marc Pugh and in at the back post rose ANDY BISHOP to plant a firm header into the back of the net from close range.

The strong wind was clearly evident as Bury pushed forward again with another high ball over the top whilst City were constantly looking to press and probe by keeping the ball low in order to avoid it being held up in the breeze.

A looping cross from Dave Challinor ended up with Jeff Hughes requiring treatment having come off the worse following a clash of heads as he went for the ball.

A long Challinor throw then saw skipper Adie Moses concede a second corner which was subsequently punched clear by Marriott before Hughes blocked Richie Baker's drive. This saw Hughes break forward, playing Amoo through on the right and when he laid the ball back to Frecklington he saw his low drive fly a foot wide.

At the other end Baker headed wide after being picked out by Hurst who had got the wrong side of the Imps' offside trap. Shortly afterwards Marriott did well to block a shot from Baker as the hosts pressed again.

A foul by Nat Brown on Hurst then gave the Shakers a chance from a set-piece 20 yards from goal; Brian Barry-Murphy drilled straight at the wall though.

A third Bury corner came along in the 25th minute which ended up with David Buchanan blasting well over. City continued to probe along the deck as they went in search of a leveller but as the half-hour came and went it just wouldn't run for them at the crucial time.

That all changed, however, in the 37th minute when the Imps deservedly got themselves back on level terms.

The equaliser came after Nat Brown repelled a home attack before playing a sweeping low pass to the feet of Paul Mayo who had made an overlapping run down the left. Mayo took a couple of touches on to one of the few patches of green grass before playing the ball across for Forrester to slide in for his 16th of the season.

City wasted their first corner which came along almost immediately after the restart whilst Bury's reply was halted thanks to an excellent piece of marshalling by Moses to deny Hurst a run on goal.

Frecklington headed an Amoo centre straight at Fettis from the edge of the box just before the Fourth Official indicated that just the one added minute was to be added. This came and went without incident.

HT: BURY 1 IMPS 1

Neither side made any changes during the break so it was as you were as the Shakers got the second period underway.

City started the second half as they ended the first by playing some neat football despite the ever-decreasing state of the pitch. One such move ended up with Ryam Amoo seeing his centre crash into Tom Kennedy. Appeals for hand ball were waved away with a corner being the outcome.

Lee Frecklington drilled in the flag kick with Spencer Weir-Daley unable to direct his header goalwards as he flew in. The next attack saw Paul Mayo blaze over after the ball bobbled up at the wrong time.

Good work from Weir-Daley down the right then saw him get past a couple of defenders before laying the ball into the path of Frecklington who saw his first time drive fizz a foot over. Amoo then volleyed well wide as another sweeping move saw City open the Bury defence up again.

It was all Lincoln as the hour mark passed but the question on everyone's lips was could they make the pressure count?

In the 62nd minute David Buchanan made way for Nicky Adams as Bury boss Chris Casper changed things round in midfield and this saw the Shakers get themselves back into the game, with the hosts enjoying the next five minutes or so possession-wise.

A corner to the Shakers gave them a chance from a set-piece 20 minutes into the second half; Barry-Murphy's deep centre eventually seeing the ball go behind for a goal kick. A slip from Hughes then saw Hurst fire straight at Marriott.

In the 72nd minute Barry-Murphy picked up a deserved yellow for a push on Weir-Daley but the Shakers continued to push forward, winning their sixth corner of the game three minutes later; Frecklington easily intercepting at the near stick.

LEE FRECKLINGTON was at the centre of things at the other end shortly afterwards though when a sweeping City attack ended up with the Lincoln-born midfielder netting a superb headed goal.

The attack started when Amoo, switched to the left hand flank, gained space for himself before sending in a peach of a centre. It was met by Frecklington who brilliantly directed his header past the outstretched arms of Fettis.

Bury looked for an immediate response - and they got one.

The equaliser came when a Bishop shot was deflected behind by Mayo and before the corner could be taken John Fitzgerald replaced Chris Brass. It proved to be an inspirational change by the Shakers as it was FITZGERALD who met Barry-Murphy's flag-kick at the near post. Paul Morgan came on for Adie Moses before play could restart.

So City's lead lasted just a couple of minutes and were undone from another set-piece situation. One of their own, awarded after Barry-Murphy upended Frecklington on the edge of the box after a corner was played back to him was then wasted by Scott Kerr who curled the ball wide for a goal-kick.

It was end-to-end stuff now with Weir-Daley close to connecting as the ball dropped over his shoulder whilst Bury's Bishop was inches away from connecting with a deep cross from the left - the ball coming back off the post before it was hacked clear.

Bury's 10th corner of the game, taken just as the game entered its last minute, was headed clear by Frecklington at the near post and when substitute Adams swing the ball back in Bishop saw his header land on the top of the bar before going behind for a goal-kick.

Two minutes of added time was indicated by the Fourth Official with Hughes firing over midway through these and after Weir-Daley was harshly adjudged to have backed into his man as he looked to gain possession on the edge of the box, Mr Boyeson brought an entertaining game, played in difficult conditions, to a close.

FT: BURY 2 IMPS 2

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Lee BEEVERS
4 Adie MOSES
23 Nat BROWN
3 Paul MAYO
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
14 Ryan AMOO
24 Jeff HUGHES
22 Jamie FORRESTER
34 Spencer WEIR-DALEY

subs
5 Paul MORGAN (for MOSES 79)
17 Colin CRYAN
20 Owain WARLOW
27 Leon METTAM
13 Simon RAYNER

GOALS: FORRESTER (37), FRECKLINGTON (76)

BURY
1 Alan FETTIS
2 Paul SCOTT
3 Tom KENNEDY
5 Dave CHALLINOR
11 Brian BARRY-MURPHY
12 Andy BISHOP
14 Richie BAKER
15 Chris BRASS
17 David BUCHANAN
18 Marc PUGH
28 Glynn HURST

subs
16 Nicky ADAMS (for BUCHANAN 62)
4 John FITZGERALD (for BRASS 78)
22 Matthew BLINKHORN
27 Stevie TURNBULL
30 Aaron GRUNDY

GOALS: BISHOP (5), FITZGERALD (79)

BOOKING: BARRY-MURPHY (72)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Carl Boyeson (Yorkshire)
ASSISTANTS: Brian Parry & Ross Joyce
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Colin Harwood

ATTENDANCE: 2,476 (397 City supporters)