Josh Lillis produced several second-half saves to earn 10-man Rochdale a Lancashire derby draw with in-form Bury at Gigg Lane tonight.
Ian Henderson's first-half dismissal put the visitors on the back foot, and set up an open second period in which both sides had chances to snatch all three points.
It was Lillis, though, who was by far the more stretched of the goalkeepers and he kept the Shakers out to secure his side a valuable point which takes them to second in the League Two table.
Henderson was sent off for two bookable offences in the space of 10 minutes, firstly being cautioned for deliberate handball and then for pulling back Danny Mayor two minutes before the break.
Dale manager Keith Hill was furious with the decision, although Henderson was perhaps fortunate to escape an earlier booking when appearing to dive after knocking the ball round Brian Jensen.
After an opening 45 minutes during which there was only one shot on target, the second half was much more entertaining as Bury pushed forward and Dale set up to hit them on the counter-attack.
Shakers defender Pablo Mills scuffed a volley against the crossbar after referee Darren Drysdale missed Peter Vicenti's handball, while Michael Rose hit the woodwork at the other end with a bending free kick.
Dale also came close through Peter Cavanagh's long-range strike, and then Matt Done forced Bury stopper Jensen into a good stop, but Lillis was much busier than his opposite number.
The 26-year-old stayed big to thwart half-time substitute Tom Soares and also kept out Daniel Nardiello when the striker went through one on one, but he saved his best work until stoppage time.
With one of the final kicks of the game, Jake Carroll lost his marker at a corner to head powerfully towards the roof of the net, only for Lillis to make a reflex stop and tip it over the crossbar.
Joe Fish
