BURY came from behind to claim a point at home to local rivals Oldham.

A 65th-minute equaliser from Tom Pope cancelled out Lee Croft’s first-half opener as the Shakers bounced back from a disappointing cup defeat in midweek.

But David Flitcroft's men continue to search for their first win of the League One campaign after recording their fourth draw in five matches.

Christian Walton’s absence from the Bury matchday squad was the main talking point before kick-off.

David Flitcroft revealed after the match that on-loan stopper had been sent back to Brighton to have a groin injury assessed and may not be fit to join up with the England Under-21 squad next week. 

The 19-year-old's replacement, Rob Lainton, was called into action in the ninth minute as he got down bravely at the feet of Oldham striker Jonathan Forte to cut out a David Dunn through ball.

Full-back Chris Hussey had Bury’s best effort on goal in the opening half - his 14th-minute free kick from 20 yards was heading towards the top corner before clipping the Latics’ defensive wall and going wide.

The game had a derby feel on and off the pitch.

A boistrous following of 2,000 Oldham fans, in a crowd of 5,400 inside Gigg Lane, made themselves known from the kick off while the tackles were flying in, giving neither side given too much time on the ball.

Yet Tom Soares was the only player to pick up a booking, the Bury midfielder rightly carded for a rash sliding challenge on Joe Mills in the 15th minute.

That could explain the time and space Mills was given on the Oldham left to cross for their 24th-minute opener.

The full-back's centre landed at the feet of Croft on the right and his volley from eight yards was deflected past Lainton by Hussey.

Trouble flared in the away end soon after Oldham’s opener, with police reinforcements needed to calm down the travelling support after a Latics fan was ejected by stewards, possibly for lighting a flare.

The issue was brought under control pretty quickly though and drew the attention away from degenerated into a scrappy contest as both sides failed to manage another shot on target before the break.

Bury started the second half much brighter, however, and Danny Rose was unlucky to see his shot from a Joe Riley cross deflected the wrong side of the near post.

The introduction of Craig Jones for Danny Pugh gave the home side extra impetus, but Oldham remained a threat on the counter.

Lainton was twice rescued by his own defence after fumbles. The keeper dropped a high ball into the box, luckily at the feet of Tutte, and could not hold on to a low cross from Croft, with Cameron clearing.

And while Soares blasted a crisp shot inches wide and Danny Mayor was unlucky to see an attempt blocked in the box, the Shakers should have fallen further behind before they drew level.

Mike Jones side-footed a Timothee Dieng centre over from 12 yards when unmarked.

Then, on 64 minutes, centre-back James Wilson failed to hit the target with only Lainton to beat after being put in by Forte when an Andrew Tutte mistake led to to a breakaway.

And Bury made the visitors pay for their missed chances as Pope stabbed a Rose cross in off the post from close range.

The equaliser set up a tense finish as both sides went for the win.

Soares fired an angled drive close from 25 yards but Oldham substitute Simonas Stankevicius had the best chance to win it seven minutes from time.

Lainton was on hand, however, to deny the Lithuanian striker from six yards after he had been found by Croft following some fancy footwork in the box which drew the Bury defenders.

A second defeat of the season would have been harsh on Bury, though, as they hung on to ensure they only fell one place to 17th in the table, with back-to-back away matches at the top two - Walsall and Sheffield United - to come. 

BURY (4-4-2): Lainton 7; Riley 7, Cameron 8, P Clarke 7, Hussey 7; Soares 8, Tutte 7 (Mellis 88), Pugh 6 (Jones 51), Mayor 7; Pope 7, Rose 7 (Lowe 74).

Not used: Hope, Sedgwick, Ruddy, Foulds.

OLDHAM (4-4-1-1): Coleman; Brown, Wilson, Burn (Yeates 70), Mills; Croft, Dieng, Philliskirk, Jones; Dunn (Turner 84); Forte (Stankevicius 74). Not used: Cornell, Poleon, Green, Edmundson.

Referee: Roger East.

Attendance: 5,448 (1,988 visiting).