ANDY Bishop's 14th goal of the season earned Bury a point at struggling Accrington - but boss Chris Casper was unhappy with the refereeing performance.

Casper was delighted with the way his side bounced back after going behind to Andrew Todd's fifth-minute penalty.

But the Shakers boss was furious with referee Dean Whitestone for awarding the spot kick - given for a foul by Chris Brass on David Brown - and then turning down a Bury penalty appeal later on.

"We are told we need to speak to referees in the right way, and the right manner," Casper said. "He gave a clear foul against us, which was never a foul.

"You get to know their first names, and I said to the referee: `Dean, what have you given that for?' He gave a smirk and looked away from me.

"It was a bit ignorant, really, which I thought there wasn't any need for. I help the referees and fourth officials as much as possible. But today's game saw two full-blooded teams giving it their all, and it was spoilt by the referee."

Nightmare

Todd's calmly-struck penalty was the very last thing Bury needed after a nightmare week, which saw them thrown out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player, then beaten at home by Hartlepool.

The home side should have doubled their advantage on 12 minutes when Todd set up Brown, who curled his shot straight at goalkeeper Alan Fettis.

Bury's best chance of the half fell to Bishop, but the striker saw his lob sail over the crossbar.

Nine minutes after the break, Accrington's Andrew Procter should have ended the game as a contest, but he contrived to miss from four yards out after Brown's surging run and low cross.

Glynn Hurst nearly punished Accrington's wastefulness when his header forced a fine save from Ian Dunbavin and David Buchanan's follow-up effort was scrambled clear.

But Bury did not have to wait long for an equaliser from the prolific Bishop.

He pounced after substitute Matthew Blinkhorn knocked down Buchanan's corner.

"We had a right good go," Casper said. "I'm proud of the lads; I thought they gave everything. It was a great game, and the atmosphere was superb."

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