BURY halted a three-game losing run and hit the woodwork three times as they were held to a goalless draw by Plymouth.

Chris Maguire had a superb angled free-kick pushed on to the crossbar by Luke McCormick before Michael Smith struck the upright.

Substitute Mihai Dobre then brought a magnificent save out of McCormick, pushing his effort on to the post.

In the final minute Dobre had the chance to win the game but McCormick made the stop to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Lee Clark made four changes to the side which lost 3-2 at Fleetwood in midweek.

Nathan Cameron returned to captain the side in the absence of Jermaine Beckford, while Greg Leigh and Josh Laurent returned to the starting line up.

Winger Chris Humphrey also made his first start of the season, and it was his cross which Michael Smith acrobatically lifted over on the sixth minute.

Wigan loanee Laurent impressed in the middle of the park with his range of passing, and he was the first to test Argyle shot-stopper Luke McCormick with an effort from the edge of the box.

Maguire, playing just behind target man Smith, then had a 30-yard free-kick saved by McCormick.

Although the Shakers had the lions share of possession, the visitors had their chances. A flick over the top by Joel Grant found Jamie Ness free on goal but he blasted wide of the near post.

On the half-hour mark, Nadir Ciftci tried his luck from the edge of the box but the back-tracking Joe Murphy kept it out.

The best chance of the first half fell unexpectedly to the feet of skipper Cameron after Smith’s smart touch and shot in the box, but from six yards the defender’s effort was kept out by McCormick.

Bury continued to look the more dangerous after the break as Smith was kept out by McCormick from Maguire’s pass.

The creator almost turned goalscorer moments later when he tried to beat the keeper at his near post from an angled free-kick, but McCormick reacted well, making a flying save to his right to keep it out via the bar.

In a bid to make the possession count Clark introduced winger Mihai Dobre on the 57th minute, and the Bournemouth loanee carved open a clear chance for Smith 10 minutes from time, but the forward’s effort crashed back off the post.

The Romanian then went himself on the following attack but again McCormick came to the rescue for Plymouth.

Substitute Alex Fletcher broke through the back line as the game became stretched but Murphy spread himself well to make the save.

To sum up his afternoon, McCormick made a stunning stop at the death to push Dobre’s curling effort on to the post.

Dobre had the chance to win the game five minutes into added time but when through one on one McCormick again came out on top again, with Gary Miller blocking Laurent’s follow-up.

Bury (4-4-2): Murphy 7; Edwards 7, Aldred 7, Cameron 7, Leigh 7; Humphrey 7 (Lowe 67, 6), Ince 6, Laurent 7, Bunn 6 (Dobre 57, 7); Smith 7, Maguire 7.

Unused subs: Fasan, Skarz, Williams, Styles, Cooney.

Plymouth (4-3-3): McCormick; Miller, Songo’o, Bradley, Sawyer; Fox (Lameiras 65), Ness, Sarcevic; Ainsworth (Jervis 77), Ciftci (Fletcher 68), Grant.

Unused subs: Loeke, Blissett, Sokolik, Wylde.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Attendance: 3,642 (526 visiting).