Bury 0 Leyton Orient 0

Last updated : 08 January 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Bury's search for a long-overdue league win proved fruitless as the Shakers drew a blank at home to Orient.

A missed penalty from Danny Swailes and a series of missed chances now leaves Graham Barrow's team without a win in eight matches but more worrying without a goal in 401 minutes of football.

David Nugent scored Bury's last goal in a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United in December.

Swailes spurned a wonderful opportunity to give the home side the lead in the 10th minute after striker Chris Porter had earned Barrow's side a penalty.

Porter was hauled down inside the box by Orient defender John Mackie, but centre-back Swailes saw his spot kick well-saved by Lee Harrison in the visitors goal. It was Swailes second miss from the penalty spot following his injury-time miss which saw Bury beaten 1-0 by Southend United on December 11.

Bury were by far the better team in both halves. Dwayne Mattis looked to have scored in the 24th minute, but the visitors somehow cleared their lines.

Substitute Lee Unsworth also came close to breaking the deadlock, albeit fortuitously as the ball cannoned off his right boot and looped goalwards. Harrison did well to keep his balance and tip the ball over the crossbar.

Orient could have scored against the run of play, but Justin Miller headed wide from a Daryl McMahon corner.

In the 56th minute Bury's prize striker Nugent, who failed to agree personal terms with Preston North End on Thursday in a proposed move away from Gigg Lane, had a great chance to give his side the lead. But Harrison was equal to Nugent's effort and produced a fine save.

Tom Kennedy saw his cross deflected and unluckily hit a post, rebounding to safety in the 59th minute as the home side continued to press, while Nugent saw a shot cleared off the line by White a minute later as Orient held firm at the back.

Brian Barry-Murphy saw a left-footed free-kick hit the post in the 88th minute as Bury battled until the end, but however hard they tried, there was no way through Orient's defence.