RYAN Lowe feels Bury deserve to be in today's second-round draw after earning a 1-1 draw at non-league Woking.

The Shakers sacked manager Lee Clark on Monday, with Lowe installed as caretaker boss, after four straight defeats left them second-bottom of League One.

And they thought their fortunes had changed when Michael Smith was gifted a tap-in to give Lowe a dream start to his managerial career, scoring after just 47 seconds.

But Bury failed to build on that lucky break as Jamie Philpot equalised on 25 minutes and, for long periods, it looked like National League Woking, who had lost their last three, were the League One side.

The Shakers stood firm, though, to avoid an upset and secure a replay back on their own patch, set to be played on Tuesday, November 14.

Lowe said: “Blackpool got beat at Borehamwood this weekend and we're there to be shot down too.

“Woking tried to get at us and turn us over but it wasn't to be. You'd probably say it's a fair result.

“We've got a replay now and we'll do everything we can to get through to the second round.”

The Shakers started brightly, with Woking's first touch coming as Joey Jones tried to cut out Greg Leigh's cross.

But he could only head against his own bar and Smith, who hadn't scored in seven games, couldn't believe his luck as he had time to control the rebound before tapping it into an empty net.

Chris Maguire tested Nathan Baxter but Woking then found their feet. Huddersfield loanee Jordan Williams came in at right-back and was beaten by Joe Ward before the winger fizzed a dangerous low ball across goal.

Regan Charles-Cook's cut-back then found Matt Young, whose goalbound strike was headed over by Tom Aldred. But Nathan Ralph's inswinging cross from the left was perfect for Philpot to level with a glancing header.

Charles-Cook then fired over before Leo Fasan rushed off his line to clear as far as Ward, whose fine lob from the left wing was headed off the line by Aldred.

Inih Effiong was off target either side of the break, while Ward's shot early in the second half was parried to safety by Fasan.

The introduction of midfielder Rohan Ince helped Bury to both shore things up and keep hold of the ball. That resulted in two wayward 20-yard shots by the fit-again Andrew Tutte while Jay O'Shea tested Baxter from similar range.

Woking's last chance saw Effiong volley over late on while substitute Mihai Dobre twice went close for the Shakers, but a Bury winner would have been harsh of the hosts.

Lowe added: “Sometimes you can score too early but you're always going to take it.

“We could have done a lot better in the first half. They got the goal and the momentum went with them.

“In the second half, once we got it down, passed it a bit and tried to get our flair players in the game more we started to cause them a few problems.

“But it was a great effort from our lads, I can't fault any of them.”

Bury (4-4-2): Fasan 7; Williams 6, Aldred 7, Edwards 7, Leigh 6; Humphrey 6 (Ince 58, 7), Tutte 6, O'Shea 7, Mayor 6 (Dobre 76, 6); Maguire 6, Smith 6. Subs: Ajose, Danns, Reilly, Whitmore, Moloney.

Woking (4-4-2): Baxter; Young, Orlu, Wynter, Ralph; Philpot, Jones, Isaac, Ward; Charles-Cook 7 (Appau 79), Effiong. Subs: Banton, Saraiva, Stojsavljevic, Mason.

Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire).

Attendance: 1,858 (286 away).