Accra, June 21, GNA - League leaders Accra Hearts of Oak were forced to drop valuable points again after visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) held them to a 1-1 drawn game in a Week 24 of the Glo Premier League clash at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday. The result was yet another ordinary performance from the League leaders who were lucky to have earned a point in the encounter largely dominated by the "Pride of the North".

Newly signed on coach Nii Noi Thompson who replaced Serbian Kosta Papic on Friday after the latter was dismissed for series of poor results, appeared to be lacking the antidote to revive the fortunes of the League leaders.

As expected the former Hearts player made changes to the team by handing starting roles to experienced midfielder Hamza Mohammed, Charles Taylor, Felix Baffoe, Tetteh Nortey and striker Abubakari Mahadi, but yet the performance was no better than the previous encounters. It was however the Phobians who made the first attempt at breaking the deadlock on 18 minutes but Mahadi's overhead-kick from a Taylor cross missed the posts narrowly.

Eight minutes on, Taylor broke the deadlock by firing into the yawning net after RTU captain Mohammed Baker and an adventurous goalie of RTU surged forward allowing Taylor with the easy task of heading the ball into the net in their attempt to clear their lines. The visitors from then on fought in search of the eqauliser and their efforts paid off for them on the stroke of half time through Sumaila Atia who headed home from Mohammed Fatau's well executed free-kick.

RTU resumed the second half strongly and had the better of the exchanges throughout but erratic shooting by Atia, Kabiru Imoro and substitute Sumaila Nyanya robbed them of the maximum points. On the hour mark, Mahadi made a mess of the closet opportunity of the second half when he headed wide after RTU goalie John Adjetey had spilled Taylor's free-kick unto his path. As the clock ticked, Coach Thompson incurred the wrath of the supporters, when he surprisingly pulled out Francis Bossman for Eric Nyarko.

Bossman had been one of the busiest Hearts players on the day and his exit was a surprise to the fans who protested by hurling bottles and sachet water at the technical bench.

After the game, dejection and misery portrayed the faces of the fans who grouped in clusters as they wondered what was amiss with the winning way of the Phobians whilst the RTU lads joined their supporters to cherish the drawn game.