Steve Shaw reports from Vale Park.

VALE edged a little closer to rubber stamping their Football League status by securing a commendable 1-1 draw against high-flying Bury this afternoon.

Young striker James Lawrie broke the deadlock during the first half with a well-executed lob, before Elliott Bennett hit back for the visitors after the break with a well-placed header.

Vale had to soak up periods of pressure especially during the second half. But Dean Glover's men proved to be resolute under fire, while they also enjoyed their fair share of possession and chances.

Glover made a trio of changes from the team that fell to defeat at Exeter in midweek.

Lee Collins, now fully recovered from a hip complaint, earned a recall following his impressive display in the second-string's victory over Walsall on Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old came in at centre-half, replacing Luke Prosser whose own goal handed Exeter their win at St James Park.

Midfielder Scott Brown was left out, while Rob Taylor was recalled at left midfield. Dave Howland was unleashed on the right, allowing Dave Brammer and loan midfielder Paul Marshall to roam the centre ground.

Glover switched from a 4-5-1 formation, to 4-4-2, which meant versatile midfielder Anthony Griffith dropped to the bench.

Lawrie was paired with Louis Dodds in the forward line to make a fourth senior start.

Top scorer, and skipper, Marc Richards, failed to overcome an Achilles problem and missed out.

Bury's side included centre-back Efe Sodje, brother of former Vale striker, Akpo.

The Valiants started brightly and a fifth-minute corner, won by Lawrie, resulted in Brammer having a 20-yard shot blocked.

The visitors were not living up to their billing as promotion contenders.

When right midfielder Bennett swung over a decent cross from the right Vale keeper Chris Martin plucked the ball out of the sky with reassuring ease.

Taylor responded by dragging a 20-yard strike wide of the right-hand post.

Bury were struggling to maintain possession long enough to sustain a period of dominance. Meanwhile, the Shakers were clearly missing the attacking skills of 16-goal striker Andy Bishop who failed to recover from a groin injury.

The Valiants were also failing to take a stranglehold, while neither side seemed capable of carving the opposition open.

In the 19th minute, Howland collected the ball on the right following good work from Lawrie.

Taylor out-muscled his marker to connect with the Irishman's delivery but he angled his header wide of the target from the left channel.

A mix-up between Collins and Edwards opened the door for Shakers striker Andy Morrell to fire wide from 20 yards two minutes later.

Vale won a free kick deep on the left in the 23rd minute, which Edwards drilled towards the edge of the box. Lawrie ballooned the ball into the air with a flick-on before Dodds's volley, from 16 yards, was blocked.

Sodje was booked on 26 minutes for a late challenge on Dodds.

On the half-hour mark Edwards, Lawrie and Marshall teed up Brammer from 20 yards. But the 34-year-old failed to control his volley which almost went out for a corner on the right.

Five minutes before the break, Morrell and fellow striker Phil Jevons worked the ball to Mick Jones on the left-hand side of Vale's box.

The highly-rated winger's angled drive, from 14 yards, was deflected to safety for a corner which was subsequently wasted.

In the 44th minute Bennett out-paced Collins on the right flank. His low driven centre was heading straight into the path of the incoming Jevons before McCombe made a timely interception.

Vale went straight onto the front foot at the start of the second period as Marshall threaded a superb through ball to Lawrie. The Northern Ireland under-21 international rushed onto the ball, took a touch, and smashed a 25-yard half-volley which keeper Wayne Brown did well to smother.

Shakers right-back Steve Haslam scuffed a 20-yarder soon after before Dodds warmed Brown's hands with a stinging effort from similar range.

Vale, backed by a vocal home support, were beginning to grow in confidence and took the lead in the 57th minute when Dodds raced onto a long ball.

Brown beat him to the loose ball but the keeper's weak header fell to the feet Lawrie. From 35-yards the 18-year-old sent back a perfectly-weighted lob that sailed over Brown and into the net as the ball ran away from Sodje.

It was only his second goal in the senior ranks.

Bury almost equalised within two minutes. An eight-yard header from Jevons, meeting Buchanan's cross, had to be hooked off the line by McCombe.

However, the visitors did level matters in the 68th minute when Buchanan floated another cross into the danger area where an unmarked Elliott guided his header into the near right-hand corner.

Howland was unable to hit the target with his own header before Martin's excellent diving save denied Morrell's shot from 18 yards.

On 76 minutes, Shakers substitute Danny Racchi swept his centre to Buchanan whose headed effort drifted away before the full-back cleared the bar with a long-range strike.

With minutes remaining Collins's last-gasp tackle denied Racchi a clear sight on goal as the Valiants claimed a well-deserved share of the spoils.

Port Vale: Martin, Stockley, Collins, McCombe, Edwards, Howland, Brammer (Richman, 72), Marshall, Taylor (Thompson, 85), Lawrie, Dodds.

Not used: Lloyd-Weston, Griffith, Glover.

Bury: Brown, Haslam, Futcher, Sodje, Buchanan, Bennett (Welsh, 85), Barry-Murphy, Dawson, Jones (Racchi, 72), Morrell (Hurst, 85), Jevons.

Not used: Cresswell, Baker.

Referee: Steven Cook (Surrey):

Attendance: 5,763 (including 987 visitors)

Other Port Vale stories today:

Port Vale: Boost for Anyone as surgery is ruled out

Port Vale: Big names back Vale's 'bargain season ticket offer

Port Vale in focus: 'The target can be reached - but only if Glover is sacked'