Bury and Southend play out goalless stalemate

Bury and Southend managed to stretch their unbeaten runs after settling for a 0-0 draw at Gigg Lane.The visitors had the better chances but goalkeeper Connor Ripley made several saves to earn rock-bottom Bury a point.The Shakers are now five unbeaten but results elsewhere saw them slip 10 points from safety.Chris Powell failed to maintain his winning start as Southend manager but a four-match unbeaten run has lifted the Shrimpers up to 14th.Ripley denied Michael Kightly and Freddie Ladapo early on while Harry Bunn went close for Bury.Shayon Harrison's low strike then forced Ripley to save at full stretch and the on-loan Middlesbrough keeper gathered at the second attempt.Bury striker James Hanson saw a tame header saved early in the second half and Peter Clarke had a header cleared off the Southend line.The visitors then finished strongly, with Dru Yearwood firing wide before blazing over after Ripley parried a Harrison shot.And Ben Coker went closest to claiming a late winner as his shot from a tight angle was again kept out by Ripley.