Things have not gone that well for Irish clubs against their English counterparts in pre-season so far and last night was no different. None of the four Eircom League teams in action against English Nationwide teams managed a win.

Bohemians looked the most likely, as they led Cardiff City 1-0 with two minutes to go thanks to a David Morrison goal. But the Welsh got their reward for being the more productive team when Mark Bonner fired home a rebound from 12 yards to earn the draw.

Derry City held John Aldridge's Tranmere Rovers to a 0-0 draw at the Brandywell but the final game of a mini-tournament had to be decided on the night, so it went to a penalty shoot-out which Tranmere won 4-2.

St. Patrick's Athletic went down 2-1 at Richmond Park against Crewe Alexander. Paul Tait gave the visitors the lead in the 4th minute when he headed home an inswinging corner.

Pat's hit back through Jamie Harris in the 18th minute but Mark Rivers sealed the win for Crewe with the final goal of the game in the 37th minute.

Former Northern Ireland international Kingsley Black put Finn Harps to the sword in Derry last night. Two goals from the veteran striker gave Grimsby Town a comfortable win.

Galway were the only Eircom League team to win a pre-season match last night but their victory came against fellow Eircom Leaguers Sligo Rovers. A single goal from David Goldbey in the 81st minute settled the tie against two local rivals.