Drogheda United 1 Bray Wanderers  1:An injury-time Alan Cawley penalty rescued a point for Bray Wanderers at United Park last night. Referee Declan Hanney spotted a handball in the area and had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

A full house at United Park to see Drogheda crowned league champions for the first time in their history probably didn't care much what happened on the park and in truth they witnessed a pretty tame match.

Bray had to be sharp because of their greater need for points in the battle to avoid relegation.

With eight minutes gone Wanderers won a free on the edge of the Drogheda box when Paul Keegan upended Pat Kavanagh.

Cawley stepped up and curled a super effort round United's wall that beat goalkeeper Dan Connor but came back off the post.

Drogheda's first opportunity didn't materialise until the 24th minute when Ollie Cahill saw his powerful strike brilliantly stopped by Steve Williams. But it was the visiting side who continued to press forward as Kavanagh and Stephen Fox shots tested Connor in quick succession.

Totally against the run of play Drogheda took the lead seven minutes from the break when the Bray defence failed to clear their lines properly and the ball fell to Eamon Zayed who struck home from just inside the box.

Thirteen minutes into the second half and Bray's night of woe in front of goal continued as James O'Shea's cross from the right cleared the entire United defence before falling to Kavanagh who rapped his volley off the woodwork.

Drogheda almost doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Shane Robinson raced down the right wing and picked out Guy Bates with his cross but the English striker guided his header just wide.

DROGHEDA: Connor, Webb, Gavin (Tambouras, 64), Gartland, Robinson, Shelley, Byrne (Bradley, 90), Zayed (O'Keeffe, 54), Keegan, Bates, Cahill.

BRAY: Williams, Tresson, Cronin, Delaney, Fox, Cawley, Hurley, Kavanagh, Ivory, Deans, O'Shea (Dunphy 73).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).