TOP scorer Andy Bishop netted his 16th goal of the season but Bury are still waiting for their first win of 2007.

Visitors Darlington equalised three minutes from time having been reduced to 10 men when Evan Horwood was red carded moments earlier.

"We were in control," groaned manager Chris Casper. "But we did the same thing to Torquay last Saturday. We've just got to learn. We are a young side; just look at the age of our midfield.

"We were perhaps naive not to kill the game off when he should have done. It was a point gained but maybe two points dropped."

Threat

Things appeared to be going Bury's way when referee Neil Swarbrick - on the intervention of a linesman - awarded a penalty against Horwood for handball.

Bishop stepped up and scored past former Stockport goalie Lee Jones, until a few weeks ago, a team-mate at Gigg Lane.

By then, Bury could easily have been behind.

Former Villa and England striker Julian Joachim was a constant threat and twice went close.

The Shakers improved in the second period and Bishop should have done better with a one-on-one against experienced Jones.

Matthew Blinkhorn then wasted a glorious chance to settle the points after 71 minutes.

That miss proved costly and when Bury's defence failed to deal with Joachim's pass, debutant Tommy Wright drove home from eight yards beyond Andy Warrington.