UCD 1 Bohemians 1:A Killian Brennan penalty with 12 minutes to go rescued a share of the spoils for Bohemians but it was a disappointing night for Pat Fenlon's men as they failed to close the gap on leaders St Patrick's Athletic.

Having come on with 18 minutes to go in last week's scoreless encounter with Derry, Neale Fenn started up front with Glen Crowe with Jason Byrne dropping down to the bench. But Bohemians found it hard to find that elusive opening for most of the game.

Bohemians, who were aiming to move within a point of the top, had created the first chance of the game when Fenn headed against the crossbar after Brennan had sent over a free on six minutes.

In a rare attack on the Bohemians goal, UCD's Alan McNally headed wide at the far post from Derek Doyle's cross from the right. And despite some good defending from Ian Bermingham, Bohemians began to get on top shortly after the half hour.

And although they failed to find the target from a free after John Paul Kelly had been impeded outside the box, it took a good two-footed save from Matt Gregg to keep out Neil Fenn after Crowe had flicked on from inside the box.

Bohemians continued to press and on 38 minutes Crowe, having gone three games without a goal, could only find the side netting.

The second half continued in the same vein with Gregg, against his former club, pulling off a spectacular save on 52 minutes. Kelly had knocked down for Fenn, the former Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder favourite to score before Gregg spread himself to turn Fenn's volley around the posts.

Gregg, with a quarter of an hour to go, got his body behind Brennan's first-time volley.

UCD scored against the run of play on 76 minutes following an amazing sequence in the Bohemians goalmouth. After being put through by McNally, Brian King's low shot had been palmed away by Brian Murphy. Conor Kenna followed up only for a Bohemians player to get his body in the way before Patrick McWalter eventually scrambled the ball home.

But UCD's lead lasted barely 30 seconds when Crowe was upended inside the penalty area. And up stepped Brennan for his third goal of the season with a low shot past the goalkeeper.

UCD: Gregg; Mahon, Shorthall, Kenna, Bermingham; McWalter, McNally, Finn (Reilly 73 mins), King; Doyle, Byrne (Purcell 85 mins.)

BOHEMIANS: Murphy; Heary, Oman, Burns, Powell; Rossiter (Singh 56 mins), Cronin, Kelly (O'Donnell 80 mins), Brennan; Crowe (Byrne 80 mins), Fenn.

Referee: R Winter (Dublin).