BURY were denied a deserved draw against Sheffield United last night as a late Billy Sharp strike gave the Premier League hopefuls a 2-1 win at Gigg Lane.

The Shakers had put in a much-improved performance to Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by United’s steel-city rivals Wednesday before being hit by Sharp’s late winner.

The visitors controlled the opening stages and took a sixth-minute lead when Gary Speed’s 20-yard strike deflected in off Ryan Cresswell, who joined Bury on a two-year deal from the Blades this summer.

The 20-year-old centre-half soon made amends, though, as he drew the Shakers level by heading home from Stephen Dawson’s 20th-minute corner.

Elliott Bennett was lively on Bury’s right wing after returning for a second loan spell from Wolves and his lay-off found Bishop 20 yards out, only for former Bury keeper Paddy Kenny to turn his shot over.

Dawson went close each side of the break while Webber fired into the side-netting on the hour mark before heading wide from eight yards.

But Blades substitute Sharp latched onto a long ball to score with virtually the last kick of the game and stun the Shakers, who visit Northwich on Saturday for their final pre-season friendly.