A LUCRATIVE televised tie at home to Sheffield United remains the tantalising prospect for both sides after a goalless stalemate at the JD Stadium.

But after Skrill Premier leaders Cambridge United dominated this rearranged first round tie, they must now be favourites to land the bumper £80,000 pay-day.

Bury struggled to get going in the first half after almost gifting the non-league visitors a goal in the opening minute.

The Shakers pushed bodies forward from the kick off and were caught completely cold by a long ball over the top.

Pacy Cambridge striker Kwesi Appiah controlled the ball on the half-way line and, with one touch went past last man Nathan Cameron and was clean through on goal.

Bury stopper Brian Jensen saved his team-mates’ blushes, clawing out an arm to steal the ball off Appiah’s toes as the Crystal Palace loanee bid to go round him for what would have been a certain goal.

After another close-shave from a corner inside the opening minute, the home side steadied themselves but struggled to string passes together on a frosty, bobbly surface.

Shaun Harrad and Tom Soares finally mustered the Shakers’ first shots on goal in the 17th minute, Soares following up a blocked overhead kick from Harrad to blast the loose ball wide.

That seemed to settle down Bury a bit, but Luke Berry was unlucky to miss the far post with a shot across goal as the Skrill Premier leaders continued to pose a threat with the ball over the top.

Ronnie Jepson’s League Two strugglers were starting wrestle to control of the match though and should have gone ahead 10 minutes before the break.

Danny Hylton was unlucky to have a close-range effort blocked, then, as the ball broke from the resulting corner, Danny Mayor scooped a half volley over when unmarked on the penalty spot.

Any momentum Bury had built evaporated at the break as Cambridge came out with all guns blazing.

Their good play was undermined by a combination of poor finishing and decent keeping though, as Appiah wasted two golden chances to open the scoring.

The youngster pulled one effort well wide after racing into the box in the 54th minute and was then foiled by the outstretched hand of Jensen five minutes later.

The introduction of Anton Forrester and Tommy Miller for the ineffective Harrad and Soares on the hour failed to stem the tide of Cambridge chances, with striker Adam Cunningham heading a corner just over soon after.

It took until the 73rd minute for Bury’s first meaningful chance, with Miller’s low drive from inside the box blocked by a combination of Cambridge defender and goalkeeper on the line.

But the visitors continued to test Jensen at the other end, and midfielder Harrison Dunk was unlucky to see his right-footed strike tipped over by the 39-year-old keeper.

Both sides had late chances to win it, with Ian Miller heading over a Cambridge corner before Mayor skied another effort for Bury, but they will now have to settle the tie at the third time of asking at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday, December 3.