Latics held in Bury derby

HIT THE POST. . . Aaron Amadi-Holloway

ATHLETIC 0, BURY 0

ATHLETIC fought out a goalless draw with local rivals Bury in the battle neat the bottom of Sky Bet League One.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway hit the base of a post with a point-blank, far-post header from close range in the second half, meeting Aiden O'Neill's cross, while Tope Obadeyi blazed way over after his free-kick rebounded off the defensive wall.

Athletic improved markedly in the second half after finding it a struggle in the opening 45 minutes.

Taylor Moore volleyed into the side-netting early on for the bright visitors and Ryan Lowe failed to get a clean strike away from James Vaughan's flick-on, before Cameron Burgess flicked inside the six-yard box, Connor Ripley diving on top of the ball well.

Obadeyi pulled an effort a few yards wide just after the half-hour, but while second-best before half-time a change of shape from John Sheridan's side gave the hosts more forward impetus.

Lowe went close on the break after Obadeyi hit a shot that bounced off a defender and careered over the crossbar and right at the end, Anthony Gerrard was grateful to Ripley when he saved from George Miller after the Athletic centre-back was caught in possession by Vaughan.