MANAGER Ryan Lowe believes Bury can “nearly see” the light at the end of the tunnel in their bid to earn promotion from League Two.

The Shakers had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham on Tuesday night, when victory would have put them top of the table on goal difference.

However, they now have a five-point buffer over fourth-placed Milton Keynes Dons as they prepare to visit mid-table Stevenage on Saturday.

“We’ve got 10 games to go now, to finish off the hard work,” said Lowe.

“We can nearly see that light at the end of the tunnel and it’s hard because we know we’ve got to be patient.

“The lads were disappointed not to get the three points but I’ll lift them up and get their spirits high again.

“They feel it was two points dropped but for me it’s not.

“That’s four points from the last two games, that’s two points a game, and I’ve told the lads that if they continue to do that they’ll get where they want to get to.”

Although Bury failed to earn a fifth straight league win at

Cheltenham, with Scott Wharton’s opener cancelled out by the Robins’ Billy Waters, they remain unbeaten in the league since Boxing Day, a run which now stretches to 12 games.

“We created enough chances to win the game and if a second goal went in I think it would have been a comfortable night for us,” Lowe added.

“Their goal was very sloppy on our behalf, but they’ve got good form at home.

“There’s talk that we could have gone to the top of the league but it doesn’t matter.

“It’s another game unbeaten for us.

“The way we play football, I think our domination showed it was total football all game, and it was like an attack-versus-defence exercise.

“But that’s what teams are going to do against us, they’re going to put 10 men behind the ball and fight tooth and nail, so it’s a good point.

“It’s another point in the right direction and one we’d have taken before the game.”