BURY’S run of miserable luck continued at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night as they were dumped out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on penalties.

But the way they battled back after going behind three times in an amazing Northern Area quarter-final tie made it feel more like a moral victory and could still prove to be a turning point in their difficult season.

Goals from Joe Skarz, Matt Doherty and a sublime stoppage-time strike from captain Steven Schumacher countered scrappy efforts from Preston’s Jack King, Andy Procter and Stuart Beavon.

Both sides then buried their first four spot-kicks, before Preston keeper Thorsten Stuckman pulled off a smart save to deny on-loan Wanderers midfielder Gregg Wylde and Graham Cummins grabbed his chance to send the Deepdale outfit into the regional semi-finals.