FC UNITED'S big push for a third successive title hit the skids at a soggy Gigg Lane as keeper Sam Ashton gifted Lancaster an 89th minute equaliser.
The Rebels were on course their third win in a week when Ashton allowed an overhit pass to zip past him off the greasy surface, leaving Dave Foster to fire home from a narrow angle.
FC had earlier come from behind to lead 2-1 through Adam Carden and Jamie Baguley, but Foster's late leveller forced them to settle for a point.
The 2-2 draw was a major missed opportunity for Karl Marginson's men as UniBond division one north leaders Skelmersdale, who they visit tomorrow, were also held, at Ossett.It also enabled third-placed Curzon Ashton to stretch their lead over FC to six points with a 4-2 win at Harrogate Railway.
FC UNITED stepped up their bid for a third successive title by brushing UniBond division one north relegation battlers Chorley aside at Gigg Lane.
And yet again their hero was ace marksman Rory Patterson, who struck twice to take his goals tally in the league to 30. Patterson fired promotion-chasing FC in front after just eight minutes but had to wait until five minutes after the restart to add his second when he swept home Jerome Wright's pinpoint cross from the left.
Stuart Rudd capped a fine display by adding the third goal to take the Rebels into fourth place behind Curzon.
They now trail leaders Skelmersdale by eight points but have four games in hand on the Merseysiders.
FC UNITED had substitute Stuart Rudd to thank for keeping them firmly in the UniBond first division north title hunt with a spectacular late winner at Woodley.
Rudd struck with an 89th-minute overhead kick to give the fifth-placed Rebels a victory which ensures they stay tucked in behind neighbours Curzon Ashton, 2-1 winners over Lancaster.
But it was a win achieved at a price for Karl Marginson's men, who lost leading scorer Rory Patterson with a knee injury.
Pat McGuire had given lowly Woodley a 47th-minute lead before Jamie Baguley equalised midway in the second half.
IN A season that's heading for gridlock, FC United can scratch one fixture off their daunting schedule.
The Rebels saw their hopes of a treble blown away by a Radcliffe Borough side who made a mockery of their position at the foot of the Unibond First Division North.
A Michael Oates inspired second-half fight back saw Borough secure their place in the Manchester Premier Cup final with Hyde, while Karl Marginson must now concentrate on the title as well as the Presidents Cup final against last night's opponents.
The Premier Cup was never going to be top of his priorities - but he showed his intentions by naming a strong team, with Dave Chadwick arguably the only noticeable absentee.
Even still, he saw his side out-thought and out-fought by Borough, who could have been out of sight by half-time.
Remarkably the Rebels led at the break, courtesy of a sumptuous goal by Chris Baguley. But Oates' double after the interval and another by Steve Howson saw the game turned on its head.
It was the least they deserved after peppering United's goal in the first 45 minutes - twice hitting the bar in one attack and seeing several other chances wasted.
The best Marginson's men could muster was a Stuart Rudd header, saved from point-blank range by Phil Priestley. When their lead came, on 33 minutes, it was against the run of play, but worthy of any semi-final, with Baguley collecting the ball 25 yards out and curling a left-foot shot in the top corner.
It looked like Borough would be punished for their wastefulness, but Kevin Glendon's half-time team talk had the desired effect with his side restoring parity almost immediately after the restart.
Four minutes into the second half Tony Whealing's free-kick on the edge of the area bounced awkwardly in front of Sam Ashton and the keeper couldn't hold on to the ball as Howson blasted the rebound into the net.
From that moment Borough never looked like losing it with Craig Dawson firing over from close range before Whealing's cross from the left-hand side was met by Oates at the near post, giving Ashton no chance.
The game was put beyond doubt 10 minutes later when Oates was set free down the right and he fired home from a tight angle.
FC UNITED chief Karl Marginson conceded the Rebels were fortunate to step up their UniBond first division north championship assault with a 3-2 home victory over Newcastle Blue Star.
Sub Simon Carden's injury-time winner got FC out of jail after they'd squandered an early two-goal lead.
Rory Patterson's double had put Marginson's men in control inside the first quarter.
But FC then allowed the visitors to draw level with two late goals before Carden's last-gasp strike secured a win which takes them to within nine points of leaders Skelmersdale, who crashed 1-0 to fellow title challengers Bradford Park Avenue.
"We very nearly shot ourselves in the foot, so, in the end, it turned out to be a massive three points for us," said Marginson, whose fifth-placed side will go top if they win their games in hand.
"We were by no means at our best, but credit to the boys for responding so well after Newcastle had equalised with just seven minutes left."
Meanwhile, second-placed Curzon Ashton wasted a chance to close the gap on Skem as they went down 1-0 at Garforth.
FC UNITED�S Rory Patterson struck a Stella blow in the race for the title with a brace against rivals Curzon Ashton.
The mercurial Irishman had been a doubt for the game after injuring his neck at the weekend, but after a few pints of Stella Artois on Saturday night his muscles relaxed and he was passed fit to lead United to a 3-2 on Wednesday.
The Unibond League Division One North title race is hotting up with FC now able to top the table if they win all their games in hand.
Before the game, Curzon had been the only side United couldn�t catch, and they started the Gigg Lane clash with a point to prove after FC had won the previous fixture 2-0 in December.
Former red Rhodri Giggs hit a post inside the first five minutes of his return to Bury and Ashton�s Jorge Diaz hit the bar with a superb curling effort.
Reds keeper Aaron Grundy also pulled off a fine save from Giggs as Curzon took advantage of the pulsating wind by taking it to FC in the opening exchanges.
The reds gradually struggled their way back into the game after Ashton keeper David Carnell suffered an injury.
Patterson took fair advantage of the man�s ailment by side footing the opener into the corner where he couldn�t possibly reach it.
That gave FC the advantage at half time, but it lasted barely 30 seconds into the restart as Michael Norton headed the visitors level.
FC skipper Dave Chadwick stooped to restore the advantage soon after, but then Giggs looked to have stolen the show when he made the most of a slip by Liam Foster to tap in for 2-2.
But Patterson wasn�t going to let anyone else steal the limelight, as he smashed home late on to assert the reds� title ambitions.
FC are now in fourth place, nine points behind leaders Skelmersdale, but with four games in handUnited travel to Goole in the Unibond President�s Cup on Saturday then they play away at Ossett Albion on Wednesday, March 12.
FC UNITED'S hopes of a third successive league title suffered a body-blow as they were held by UniBond Division One North promotion foes Bamber Bridge in front of a Gigg Lane crowd of 3,348.
But it would have been worse for fifth-placed FC, whose offer of free admission to under-18s resulted in a bumper attendance, had Chris Baguley not saved their bacon with a spectacular injury-time equaliser.
Baguley struck from 30 yards to rescue a point for the Rebels after they had twice trailed to Alex Porter goals, the second of which arrived with just a minute left on the clock.
Simon Carden netted FC's first equaliser, firing home from close-range, but they were staring defeat in the face when Baguley salvaged a draw which means they now trail the top two, Skelmersdale and Curzon Ashton, by 11 points.
But FC United have been reinstated to the UniBond League President's Cup after their quarter-final conquerors Nantwich were thrown out for fielding an ineligible player in their 5-1 victory.
Karl Marginson's men will now visit Goole in the semis on Saturday.