Fenn pounces to earn Gypsies last-gasp point
Saturday August 01 2009
NOT QUITE the ideal result for the chasing pack at the top of the table, but the wolves are certainly at the champions' door as Bohemians snatched a last-gasp draw against Drogheda United last night.
Certainly, the hinges have been left open for Shamrock Rovers to make it the league's first closely-fought title-chase in three years as the Gypsies edged just six points ahead of the Hoops, who have tomorrow night's game in hand.
In the intervening years since that pulsating Shelbourne league victory in 2006, neutrals have been forced to resort to the bottom of the table for end-of-season drama.
And while Neale Fenn's injury-time strike sealed a point, United left a chance for Shamrock Rovers to make it a memorable run-in between two great rivals.
It was poor fare at the rain-soaked Boyneside venue for the most part, but it took one touch of quality, 34 minutes in, to open the scoring when Brian King played a clever one-two with Robbie Clarke on the left wing before the former UCD man whipped in a ball to the nimble feet of James Chambers.
The ex-Shelbourne man cushioned the ball into his own stride, before coolly slotting into the far right hand corner. Brian Murphy, under the watchful eye of Wolves' goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain, was helpless.
Bohemians' only real chances to snatch an equaliser came in the final 20 minutes, with an almighty scramble resulting in Fenn's shot being fumbled by Paul Skinner on 80 minutes before Paul Keegan's prodded attempt from close range was somehow blocked and cleared.
As Alan Mathews' side stood firm, alas, it wasn't enough as a string of corners in injury-time ended with substitute Fenn taking a superb touch inside the box before smashing in at the near post to claim what may turn out to be a crucial point.
Drogheda -- Skinner, Ryan, Kenna, McNally, Clarke; McGill, Shiels, King, Chambers, Duffy; Barrett (Bates 80).
Bohemians -- B Murphy, A Murphy (Cronin 67), Shelley, Oman, Powell; Ndo, Keegan, Deegan, Brennan; Madden (Fenn 46), Byrne.
Ref -- N Doyle (Dublin).
- Neil Ahern
