A JOE Riley pile-driver looked to have blown the League Two promotion race wide open as Bury overcame title chasers Shrewsbury Town.

But a 102nd-minute winner for third-placed Wycombe Wanderers in their match at home to Exeter took the shine off a fantastic performance at the JD Stadium.

Riley’s 57th-minute goal - his first goal for the club - did, however, ensure fourth-placed Bury remain just four points outside the automatic promotion places with a game in hand over Wycombe.

The late drama followed a breathless encounter played out in a crackling atmosphere.

There was plenty at stake for both sides.

More than 1,100 Shrewsbury fans turned out for what could have been a promotion party, had they won and Southend lost at home to Newport.

As it stands, the Champagne will have to remain on ice as the Shakers spoiled the party and secured their place in the play-offs to boot.

Bury boss David Flitcroft certainly did his best to act as party pooper.

After seeing his side taken apart in a 5-0 drubbing in the reverse fixture, he packed his midfield, with Tom Soares getting furthest forward in support of lone front man Danny Nardiello in a tightly contested first half.

Shrewsbury’s high-tempo pressing game reduced the space in the centre of the park and the Shakers struggled to make use of their man advantage.

Bury looked their most threatening down the flanks, with full-backs Riley and Chris Hussey getting upfield at every available opportunity in support of wingers Craig Jones and Danny Mayor.

Jones set up Riley to send in a flashing cross in the 17th minute that fell to Mayor at the back post but the midfielder was unable to get a shot off.

At the other end, Bury keeper Nick Pope dropped a high free kick at the feet of Bobby Grant, but his scrambled shot was cleared off the line by Riley.

The Shakers’ best chance of the first half came from another Riley cross, which towering Shrewsbury centre-back Jermaine Grandison did well to get to ahead of Nardiello, and Mayor was again unable to make use of the loose ball.

The pace of the game meant neither side was able to show a calm head in front of goal, with visiting striker James Collins blasting over a shot on the turn just before the break after snatching at a knock down from defender Mark Ellis.

Grant tested Pope at the start of the second half with a clever shot from 25 yards that the Bury keeper was forced to tip over.

Just as the pace of the game started to drop for the first time, it exploded back into life as Riley let loose with an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the right edge of the Shrewsbury box.

The goal triggered an immediate response from the visitors, as Ellis went agonisingly close with a back-post header across the face of goal.

Bury boss David Flitcroft attempted to close the game out after that scare, throwing on Chris Sedgwick, but fellow defensive midfielder Kelvin Etuhu saw a rasping shot go just wide for the Shakers in a rare foray forward.

The tension cranked up a notch when substitute Andy Mangan tapped home for what looked like an equaliser in the 82nd minute, but the assistant referee ruled Jean Louis Akpa Akpro took the ball out of play in the build-up.

That cued a furious finish, with referee Dean Whitestone dishing out a flurry of yellow cards in a bid to keep a lid on the simmering tension.

But despite coming under a barrage in the closing stages, a combination of bold takes from Pope and block after block from the Bury defenders ensured Shrewsbury were unable to get another clear sight at goal.

And while the Shrews' immediate return to League One will surely be sealed at the weekend, Flitcroft’s brave battlers look destined to take their battle for automatic promotion to the wire.