Sport

Martin to the rescue

UCD 1 Bohemians 1 : Robbie Martin punished Bohemians to salvage a point for UCD at Belfield last night

Sat May 07 2005 - 01:00

UCD 1 Bohemians 1: Robbie Martin punished Bohemians to salvage a point for UCD at Belfield last night. Bohemians looked comfortable as they defended Stephen Ward's 54th-minute lead.

But a double error by goalkeeper Matt Gregg let UCD back into the match on 76 minutes.

Gregg initially sliced a clearance out for a throw on the left.Martin then worked a one-two with substitute Gary Dicker from the resumption to beat Gregg by drilling the ball past the goalkeeper at his near post.

Bohemians winger Ward had struck for the lead nine minutes into the second half. Fergal Harkin's corner wasn't cleared properly and skipper Kevin Hunt picked out Ward who volleyed past Darren Quigley for his first goal of the season.

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On a difficult night for football courtesy of the swirling wind and rain, Bohemians' early dominance of possession might have counted for little as they survived an amazing double let-off on 21 minutes.

Patrick McWalter's corner to the back post was first met by Anthony Murphy whose header was cleared off the line at the upright by James Keddy. The rebound was won in the air again by UCD whose captain Tony McDonnell saw his header also hacked off the line by Stephen Rice.

Bohemians responded positively, creating their first real efforts on goal just after the half hour mark. Ward forced a corner off Quigley from Rice's cross. Moments later Terry Palmer put a header wide from Harkin's corner.

The clearest opening of the first half fell UCD's way on 36 minutes. Martin put strike partner McWalter through on goal down the left, but Gregg stood his ground well to make an excellent save with his feet.

College then had to survive a right scare of their own minutes later in an increasingly lively match. Tony Grant won a header to lay the ball off for Harkin, but the winger had a "fresh-air" at the ball and UCD escaped.

UCD: Quigley; Lynch, Kenna, McNally, O'Donnell; Murphy, McDonnell, Hurley, Dupuy, McWalter, Martin. Subs: Byrne for Dupuy (63 mins), Dicker for Hurley (67 mins), Gannon for Murphy (81 mins).

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Palmer, Aggrey, Keddy; Harkin, Hunt, Farrelly, Ward; Grant, Foley Subs: Bracken for Foley (84 mins), Kelly for Harkin (87 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).