Report by Ben Davis

It was a game Pompey needed to badly win, but on reflection it is a point gained taking into account the conditions and Bury's recent form. The game was played in dreadful conditions with wind and rain swirling around the ground although credit must go to both teams for playing some good passing football at times. Bury were on form going into the game and, which included a 3-1 win at Birmingham, had pushed themselves away from the drop zone.
Alan Ball stuck with the same eleven which beat Tranmere with only Svensson replacing Simpson on the bench. It was another large crowd and the players came out to a typical tictertape Pompey welcome with the Fratton End in full voice yet again.
Pompey started the better and got in the first shot after 4 minutes when David Hillier picked up the ball in space and his 25-yard effort was palmed away by Kiely in Bury's goal. Despite the conditions Pompey were playing some good football with Aloisi and Claridge doing an excellent job in attack whilst at the back Awford, Thomson and Whitbread were clearing things up well.
With most of Bury's players 6ft or over Pompey were on occasions muscled off the ball to easily, it was clear that Bury had put two markers on Vlachos who had set up the goal for Aloisi against Tranmere. At times Pompey were over doing things and passes went astray giving the visitors opportunities to attack.
Whilst the whole crowd was singing and clapping, Bury took a shock lead on 19 minutes. Pompey could only clear a ball out to the right were it came back into the area where Johnrose headed it back across Flahavan's goal and into the net. Yet the Bury fans must have got a shock when the fans in the Fratton End stood up and started to chant "Alan Ball's Blue and White Army" constantly for 10 minutes. That in my opinion is what supporting should to be like with everyone getting behind their side when things are bad.
Although, it was Bury who threatened again 6 minutes later when Matthews beat the offside trap but placed a shot just wide of Flahavan's right hand post. Pompey's next best chance came in the 39th minute when Claridge somehow managed to wriggle past four defenders before firing in a shot straight at Kiely who reclaimed the ball after he could only parry the initial shot.
Three minutes later the keeper needed to make a more demanding save. Aloisi did well to keep hold a strong pass by Hillier to find Claridge and he played a clever return ball over the Bury defence. Aloisi's shot though was well blocked by the keeper from about five yards.
Again the crowd were fully behind Pompey trying to force the ball into the Mitlon End goal where a huddle of Bury fans were getting drenched. Bury looked as though they were content with their one goal lead and hoped to hit Pompey on the break as they soaked up what was thrown at them. The weather was now also playing a greater role as a number a passes from defence by Pompey were getting caught in the wind and blow out of play whilst Bury's long passes were being held up in the wind.
A great ball by Hillier then sent Pethick in down the right and his low shot beat the keeper but stuck the post, altough had it gone in it wouldn't have counted as the linesman's flag had gone up. The Hillier Pethick combination worked again with the wing back winning a corner which Kiely claimed from McLoughlin's cross.
Pompey got in another shot in the 62nd minute when the ball fell to Hillier 25-yards out and his low curler flew fractionally wide. Five minutes later though Pompey managed to equalise with Claridge doing most of the work to set up his striking partner Aloisi. Robinson played a ball to Claridge on the edge of the area which he controlled well before wriggling free from three defenders. His low shot was only palmed away by Kiely given Aloisi a simple tap in to send the home crowd crazy.
The volume increased as the crowd sensed a winner might be on the cards for Pompey. They had a scare though when from a Small cross Flahavan did well to fist it away with two Bury players converging on it. But he landed akwardly on his shoulder and clearly in pain. With fans behind the chanting his name he got up and bravely continued.
Andy Thomson then went close as from another Pompey corner he dived in at the near post to meet McLoughlin's cross but headed it the wrong side of the post. Both sides made a change two minutes later with Paul Hall coming on, this time to a great cheer, for Robinson and Battersby came on for Matthews for Bury. The visitor's substitute then had a great chance to win the match when Awford misjudged a long ball from the back allowing him through. Flahavan came out well and whipped the ball away from the striker's feet.
Hall's pace caused the Bury defence problems in the 83rd minute when the Jamaican was allowed room to surge forward and fire in a shot which Kiely couldn't hold. Pompey were putting their visitors under increased pressure but to Bury's credit they defended well by preventing any shots on goal.
A win would have done wonders for Pompey's rescue mission but they must settle for a point against one of the in-form teams in the division.