JERMAINE Beckford scored his fifth goal of the season as Bury extended their 51-year unbeaten run at the Valley.

The 33-year-old striker returned from a knee injury to bolster the attack and opened the scoring early in the first half with a magnificent curling effort.

Josh Magennis levelled just before the break, but the Shakers looked much improved as the side built virtually from scratch over the summer finally started to gel.

Bury did have to rely on goalkeeper Joe Murphy late on.

The former Huddersfield man made a string of fine saves to secure a decent point in the capital that moved the Shakers up to fourth-bottom in the League One table.

Lee Clark made two changes from the side that was held to a goalless draw at home to Plymouth last weekend.

Brighton loanee Rohan Ince was sidelined through injury so Callum Reilly returned to the team after a six-game absence, and skipper Beckford’s return to fitness meant Ryan Lowe dropped to the bench.

The former Preston striker's return was much welcomed, especially when he curled home the opening goal inside 10 minutes.

Bury started the game on the front foot with Beckford leading the charge. The high-pressing in the final third unnerved the home defence and created a couple of half chances.

However, they were dealt a huge blow when Nathan Cameron was forced off through injury on 18 minutes.

The devastation on the defender’s face was clear to see as he limped off the pitch to be replaced by Burnley loanee Alex Whitmore.

But the Shakers continued to play high up the pitch and Beckford volleyed over after Michael Smith nodded Greg Leigh’s deep cross into his path.

Karlan Ahearne-Grant had the host’s first effort of the game but after breaking through the defence, he lifted the ball over the bar.

Magennis was the first to test Murphy, but the shot stopper held the fierce effort well.

Chris Maguire, playing in the hole between the two strikers, tried to replicate Beckford’s opener from the edge of the box but Charlton’s on-loan Bolton keeper Ben Amos made a fine save to push it around the post.

From the following corner Aldred stooped low to head Maguire’s corner home but a covering defender cleared it off the line.

Five minutes before the break the Addicks drew level. Tariqe Fosu broke down the left wing and stood up a cross for Magennis to head home.

The second half began tight as both sides cancelled each other out in the middle of the park.

As Reilly understandably began to tire, playing his first match in over a month, Clark, who watched the entire game from the stands, gave Chris Brass the nod to get Neil Danns ready for action.

And the midfielder almost made an instant impact with a snap-shot from the edge of the box, but Amos was equal to it, tipping the ball over.

Charlton looked the more threatening as the game wore on but Murphy kept his side level with a number of brilliant saves.

The Irishman had to leap backwards to stop Jake Foster-Caskey’s heavily deflected effort looping over him before he produced a stunning point-blank save to deny the midfielder once more.

Fosu tried his luck with a 25-yard free-kick, but again Murphy kept it out.

The Addicks had one final chance deep into added time but the superb Murphy flew across his goal to push Magennis’s close-range header wide and earn his side a point.