Shamrock Rovers 0 Bohemians 1 As Roddy Collins made the acquaintance of his new squad at Tolka Park last night one player he knew only too well from his days with Bohemians, Glen Crowe, popped up with a spectacular late goal that extended the home side's run without a win to 15 games and delighted, it is safe to assume, Dublin City fans even more than it did those of the visiting side.

Bohemians needed all three points here in order to maintain their challenge for a place in next season's UEFA Cup but Europe didn't seem to be on the minds of the visiting supporters as they left the ground gleefully mocking the man who left Dalymount Park just weeks after leading the club to a double.

Some perspective was brought to the proceedings shortly before the scheduled kick-off when Shamrock Rovers goalkeeping coach, the former Ireland international Pat Dunne, collapsed during the pre-match warm up. Silence descended on the ground as members of the Order of Malta and medical staff from amongst the crowd attended to him.

The former Rovers and Manchester United player had to be resuscitated on the pitch where he lay after which he was taken by ambulance to Hospital where, it was announced at half-time, he was in a stable condition.

The news was warmly greeted by both sets of fans which, as it turned out, was about the only thing they agreed upon over the evening. Chief amongst their differences was who should be the main target for abuse with Collins probably just coming out on top due to the unity of purpose displayed by the visiting support.

The new manager made four changes to the side so easily beaten by Waterford last weekend but with three influenced by injuries or suspensions it was a subdued enough piece of tinkering by a man with a reputation for making his presence felt at a new club.

Word has it that reputation had caused some concern amongst the Rovers players many of whom will be out of contract in a couple of weeks and the urgency they displayed during a hectic and relentlessly hard-fought first half suggested they were keen to make a good impression.

When they last came up against Shelbourne, of course, Rovers raised their game and gave the league leaders a tough time of it until the closing stages when they were overrun. The pattern was similar last night with Bohemians having to work very hard for an even share of things early on only to gradually assert their superiority.

The game might have been a very different affair had David Mooney given the home side the lead just two minutes in after Dave Morrison had sent the young striker racing clear with a badly misjudged back pass.

Not for the last time over the course of the night, though, Matt Gregg saved well while Morrison and Thomas Heary also had to chip in with a couple of finely judged challenges over the course of the first half to deprive Rovers of a lead at the break.

Gareth Farrelly's men had the opportunities, too, most notably when Colin Hawkins' deflected shot forced Russell Payne to improvise wonderfully, but in the second period they began to open up their old rivals thanks in no small part to the speed of Barry Ryan down the right flank and their willingness to throw bodies, particularly from central midfield, into the area.

A succession of headed chances on goal marked Bohemians' best period with Stephen Caffrey producing two of the closest calls for the hosts from Ryan corners.

Almost inevitably, though, it was Crowe who ruined the night for his old boss a minute from the end of ordinary time.

Ryan once again sprinted down the right and the striker met his fast, low cross with a brilliantly judged low diving header that flew into the bottom right corner before Payne had any real chance to react.

At the Bohemians end their was unrestrained joy followed by a collective enquiry of their former manager as to respective state of the two teams. Moments later another Bohemians old boy, Trevor Molloy, almost silenced them with a clever flick and shot that Gregg did well to save.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Payne; Treacy, McGuinness, Gough, Malone; Robinson, O'Halloran (McDonnell, 87 mins), Rutherford, Grant; Mooney, Molloy.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Lynch, Hawkins, Heary, Morrison; Ryan, Hunt, Caffrey (Farrelly, 78 mins), Keddy; Crowe, Grant (Foley 78 mins).

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).