DAVID Flitcroft was left to rue Bury's missed chances as they did everything but score in a goalless stalemate at home to basement club Crewe.

The Shakers moved up to 12th place in the League One table on the back of their fourth clean sheet in last five games in all competitions.

But this time goalkeeper Ian Lawlor had a much easier evening.

All of the action was at the opposite end, as Leon Clarke saw an array of opportunities go begging as the hosts controlled proceedings from beginning to end in what was their fourth game in 11 days.

The 30-year-old forward's best two chances came either side of half time. He lifted his first effort over the bar from two yards out before crashing a shot against the post in the second period.

And after the match the Bury boss could not believe how his side failed to score.

“It was certainly the most one-sided football match I have ever been involved with while I've been here,” said Flitcroft.

“It is not unusual to dominate a game for 45 minutes but we dominated for the whole match.

“Every time they had half a threat they just gave it us back and we went for the next wave and the next wave.

“We had over 30 crosses, penetrative crosses and shots on target but we just weren't clinical.

"That has probably been our downfall, not being clinical.

“I am very happy with the performance and the way we played and the way we drove at Crewe and tore them to bits.

“We have only got the one point and I am disappointed with that, but I am not disappointed with the effort and the performance of the players.

“We had more energy than Crewe, we had more dominance than Crewe and were more dynamic than Crewe, so in every aspect we were totally dominant, apart from the scoreline.”

Flitcroft made one change from last Saturday's victory over neighbours Oldham. John O'Sullivan came in for his first start since joining on loan from Blackburn, replacing Danny Mayor, who was suffering a chest infection.

Skipper Nathan Cameron had to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench following his return from suspension, and Joe Riley was once again absent from the squad.

The Shakers almost took the lead inside 94 seconds through Leon Clarke.

Bury's top scorer was slid through on goal by Chris Hussey but Ben Garratt produced a stunning one-handed save down to tip it around the post.

Andrew Tutte went close with an effort from the edge of the box moments later, before Tom Soares was denied by another fine Garratt stop.

Hussey's corner dropped to Soares six yards out, and the make-shift right-back shot on the turn but it was touched around the post by the goalkeeper.

The hosts continued to do all the pressing in the first period. Hussey was causing havoc down the left and sent a curling 20-yard free-kick over the bar on the half-hour, which was swiftly followed by Kelvin Etuhu's volley from a yard inside the box, which hit the top of the stand.

Two minutes later Hussey served the ball on a plate to Leon Clarke who looked a dead cert to tap in the opener but he somehow lifted the ball over the bar with the goalkeeper caught in no-man's land.

Tom Pope came within a whisker of heading the hosts ahead when he connected with O'Sullivan's cross five minutes before half-time.

Crewe were being played off the park but could have gone into the break in the lead. Ryan Colclough picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and drove into the penalty area but dragged his shot across goal.

Leon Clarke had the ball in the net during first-half injury time but it was ruled out for offside.

The second half continued as the first ended, Bury controlling possession and creating chances galore.

Man-of-the-match Etuhu neutralised every attacking move Crewe attempted to conjure, turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye.

Leon Clarke again was in the thick of the action six minutes after the restart after being picked out by strike partner Tom Pope, but his powerful shot cannoned straight back off the post and into the grateful goalkeeper's hands.

The 30-year-old found himself on the end of a deep Hussey cross midway through the half but he headed that opportunity over the bar.

Soon after the forward picked up the ball from Mayor before turning and arrowing an effort straight down the throat of Garratt.

Crewe had a chance to steal all three points at the death as Marcus Haber raced through on goal and slotted the ball underneath Ian Lawlor, but the superb Reece Brown got back in the nick of time to make the goal-line clearance, securing a point that moved Bury back into the top-half of the table.

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Match ratings

BURY (4-4-2): Lawlor 7, Soares 7, P Clarke 8, Brown 8, Hussey 8, Tutte 7, Pugh 8 (Mayor 58, 7), Etuhu 9, O'Sullivan 7 (Jones 66, 7), Pope 7 (Lowe 70, 6), L Clarke 8.

Not used: Mellis, Burgess, Cameron, Rose.

Crewe (4-2-3-1): Garratt, Turton, Nugent, Ajayi, Guthrie, Fox, Jones, Cooper (Bakayogo 80), Colclough, Inman (Howell 80), Haber.

Not used: Richards, Saunders, Baillie, Ng, Ainley.

Yellow cards: Bury – O'Sullivan 65, Etuhu 88. Crewe – Guthrie 63.

Referee: Darren England (Doncaster).

Attendance: 2,343 (154 visiting).

STAR MAN: Kelvin Etuhu – The midfield maestro dictated the game from beginning to end, showing off a range of his skills from defence-splitting passes to last-ditch tackles. His energy levels were again top-notch and he was able to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye.