DAVID Flitcroft was delighted with Bury’s second-half performance as they twice came from behind to earn a point against Shrewsbury.

Sullay Kaikai gave the Shrews an early lead before Shakers skipper Tom Soares equalised with a sublime header.

Kaikai, the on-loan Crystal Palace winger, netted his and Shrewsbury’s second to regain the advantage, but a dominant Bury equalised through Peter Clarke and controlled the second half without finding the elusive winning goal.

Flitcroft rued his side’s missed chances as visiting goalkeeper Mark Halstead denied the Shakers all three points.

“The keeper, the saves they pulled off,” said the Bury boss. “The one off Danny Mayor was an incredible save.

“It looked like Chris Hussey’s had gone in and again it is an incredible save. And the one off the line, Soares smashed it and it’s blocked.

“I think our set-pieces were back to where they were earlier in the season. With the absolutely outstanding quality and delivery of Hussey and (Andrew) Tutte, we caused them problems at every opportunity from set-pieces.

“It was a real spirited and dominant display in the second half. I felt we could have offered more first half but that’s the conundrum we’ve got from that game.

“The fight, the spirit, the energy that the lads created second half was what the fans deserved.

“We said to them at half-time that, if I’m a fan sat in the stand, then I want to be energised, I want to be excited by watching my team, and we certainly did that second half.”

However, Flitcroft was rightly disappointed with his side’s first-half display, where his side registered only one shot on target.

“There seemed too much anxiety there first half and it was almost a not-lose game,” Flitcroft added.

“I am disappointed with the two goals of theirs because we know what he is about, Sullay Kaikai, and we had worked on it Thursday and Friday.

“But I’m certainly not disappointed with the effort and performance second half.”

The Bury boss made five changes from the 3-0 derby defeat to Rochdale the previous weekend.

Debutants Chris Neal, Cian Bolger and Nathan Delfouneso were thrust straight into the starting line-up after signing on loan on Friday, while Joe Riley recovered from back spasms and Hussey made a made a full recovery from illness, which forced him to drop to the bench last time around.

Ian Lawor was absent ahead of linking up with the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad this weekend, while Reece Brown, Danny Pugh, Danny Gardner and John O’Sullivan all dropped to the bench.

The Shrews edged the opening exchanges and took the lead inside 16 minutes. Kaikai picked up the ball down the left before cutting in and rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Bury responded with an effort of their own but it came with a different outcome – Soares dragging a shot wide after a mazy run from Delfouneso.

But the skipper did find the back of the net on 30 minutes, when he rose highest to head Hussey’s pin-point corner home at the near post.

The Shakers were level for only three minutes as Kaikai scored with a brilliant curling effort from a yard inside the penalty area.

On the stroke of half-time, Kyle Vassell raced through on goal down the right channel but his effort was turned behind by Neal.

Bury, who lacked any creative attacking intent in the first period, came firing out of the blocks in the second.

First Hussey whipped in a teasing free-kick which Halstead had to bravely turn to safety, before the keeper made a spectacular reaction save to palm Mayor’s stinging drive from the edge of the box around the post.

The hosts had a huge penalty appeal turned down in the 64th minute, when Mayor danced past four defenders and attempted to dink the keeper but was clattered in the process.

Referee Mark Haywood gave only a corner but from that set-piece the Shakers drew level once more. Tutte’s delivery caused havoc in the six-yard box and Clarke was on hand to drill the ball home left-footed.

Bury almost took the lead for the first time from another Hussey cornerbut Abu Ogogo made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Soares.

Halstead had to remain focused to produce a world-class save to tip Hussey’s 20-yard free-kick round the post at full stretch five minutes from time.

The left-back was on top form all afternoon and came a whisker away from bagging the goal that his performance deserved when he lashed a 30-yard pile-driver across goal and wide.

Shrewsbury stood strong at the back late on and withstood everything the Shakers threw at them as they pushed for the winning goal but it came to no avail.

Bury (4-4-2): Neal 6, Riley 6 (Pugh 71, 6), P Clarke 7, Bolger 7, Hussey 8, Jones 6 (O'Sullivan 45, 8), Soares 8, Tutte 7, Mayor 8, Delfouneso 7, Lowe 6 (Rose 75, 6).

Not used: Ruddy, Gardner, Burgess, Brown.

Shrewsbury (4-4-2): Halstead, Grimmer, Smith, Knight-Percival, Ogogo, Kaikai (Clark 83), Brown, Wellens, Whalley, Mangan (Akpa-Akpro 70), Vassell.

Not used: Burton, Sadler, Vernon, Cole, Grandin.

Goals: Bury 2 – Soares 30, P Clarke 65. Shrewsbury 2 – Kaikai, 16, 33.

Yellow cards: Bury – O'Sullivan 52, Bolger 86. Shrewsbury – Smith 75, Knight-Percival 83.

Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 3,248 (548 visiting)

Star man: Chris Hussey – The left-back returned to his best and constantly caused havoc in the Shrewsbury penalty area with his superb delivery from set-pieces. The 27-year-old relit his partnership with Mayor down the left, which had subsided in recent weeks. Hussey registered one assist but was unlucky not to score a couple himself, with Halstead producing a couple of wonderful saves to keep him at bay.