FORGET the finals of TV's Strictly Come Dancing or the X-Factor.

For some real breathtaking tension and drama you had to be at Gigg Lane on Saturday.

Darren Gough's metamorphosis from a flat-footed beginner to accomplished ballroom glider and Shayne Ward's transformation from Arndale Centre shop assistant to a megabucks pop star are nothing compared to the improvements being made by Chris Casper's Shakers.

Just ask Wycombe Wanderers.

The Buckinghamshire side hadn't tasted defeat in any of their 21 previous league matches prior to arriving in Lancashire at the weekend.

But they headed back down the M40 with their tails firmly between their legs after their record was smashed by a blossoming squad who are growing in confidence by the week.

It wasn't just the fact that Bury ended Wanderers' run so much as they way they did it.

They fought back from a goal behind to score twice in the dying minutes, through Paul Scott and Simon Whaley, and claim three crucial points that moved them up to 15th place in the League Two table and only six points from the play-off positions.

But it was only in the second period that Casper's men really looked as though they believed they could do what no other club in the basement section had managed all season.

The Chairboys came out with a swagger and confidence borne of their impressive run and with 39-year-old former England international Rob Lee pulling the strings in the middle of the park they gave the Shakers plenty to think about.

Obviously, the visitors were due respect, but it seemed the Shakers were showing them too much and allowed the leaders to dictate the pace of the game.

In Kevin Betsy they had a dangerous customer on the right flank and it was the former Fulham man who gave his side the lead in the 21st minute, coolly flicking the ball into the roof of the net after a fine ball over the top by Lee resulted in a mix-up involving youngster Andy Parrish and goalkeeper Neil Edwards.

It was cruel on the 17-year-old, who for the rest of the game demonstrated just what a fine prospect he is, playing in an unaccustomed left back role due to Tom Kennedy's late withdrawal with a thigh strain.

Indeed, his manager pointed out that one storming run to the edge of the Wycombe area, which saw him leave two players in his wake, seemed to give the Shakers the confidence to believe there was something in the game for them after all.

Thankfully, Bury went into the break only that goal behind and after some straight talking in the dressing room, it was a completely different story when they emerged for the second half.

Irish Under-21 international John Fitzgerald replaced Colin Woodthorpe at the heart of the defence and looked every inch the quality defender he is, putting firmly behind him his nightmare game at full-back against Cheltenham.

With skipper Dave Challinor also in commanding form at the back and Dave Flitcroft enjoying one of his best ever Bury games, driving forward from midfield, the league leaders were suddenly on the back foot and only their Australian goalkeeper Frank Talia and some indifferent shooting from Whaley in particular kept them in the lead.

Tom Youngs had replaced Jake Speight early in the game after the young Yorkshireman picked up an ankle injury and his intelligent play was also a notable feature of the second half.

The closest Wycombe went to extending their advantage was in the 79th minute when perennial pest Tommy Mooney looked set to bag another goal against the Shakers when he broke clear on the left.

The former Watford man drilled a powerful strike goalwards only to see Edwards pull off a magnificent save and push his effort over the bar.

Unfortunately for Mooney only he and Edwards realised that a save had been made and referee Mr Jones awarded a goal-kick much to the Wanderers' player's disgust.

A few eyebrows were raised when Danny Reet, who had taken a real battering from the Wycombe defenders, was substituted for the evergreen Stuart Barlow with 11 minutes remaining but it proved to be a correct decision in the final reckoning.

The Shakers continued to cause problems for Wycombe and it was no more than they deserved when Paul Scott rose high to head home a pinpoint corner by the impressive Brian Barry-Murphy with three minutes of normal time remaining.

By that time Casper's men had got the bit between their teeth and, clearly not satisfied with a point, set about Wycombe's, by then, rocky-looking defence, with a vengeance.

When the fourth official showed three minutes of added time it appeared a point would be the best Bury would take for their efforts and the Chairboys' record would grind on to 22 but in the final minute of stoppage time all that changed.

Another incisive Bury move ended with Whaley threading the ball out to substitute Barlow in space on the right side of the six-yard-box.

The former Everton striker could easily have lashed in an effort from a narrow angle but he used all his experience to just slip the ball inside where Whaley had continued his run to side-foot it into the back of the net.

Cue wild celebrations and, seconds after Wycombe kicked-off, the final whistle after one of the most thrilling finishes to a game in years.

Wycombe boss John Gorman, who coached Casper during his playing days at Reading, shook the hand of almost every Bury player as they left the field, a gesture that the Shakers' boss described as class' and the measure of the man.

"To lose the game in the last 10 minutes must have been a big disappointment for him but that shows just what kind of a fellow he is," he said.

"I hope they go another 21 games undefeated."

PHIL THORP