League Report: UCD 3 - 1 Cobh Ramblers

UCD got back to winning ways in the SSE Airtricity League First Division with an eventful 3-1 win over Cobh Ramblers at the UCD Bowl.

The students goals all arrived after the break, Greg Sloggett opened the hosts account moments after the restart followed by goals from Gary O’Neill and substitute Ryan Swan to put Collie O’Neill’s side three goals to the good.

Shane O’Connor replied with a late penalty for the visitors after UCD keeper Conor O’Donnell had been given his marching orders, but it turned out to only be a consolation for the visitors.

The high flying Cobh got off to an understandably confident start, some switch play from Rob Lehane found full back Ian Mylod wide on the left.

His cross was met by the aforementioned Lehane, but his nod was easily held by Students stopper O’Donnell.

Eight minutes in, Lehane was again attempting to pen his side's account. A low drive from the edge of the area was deflected wide off Sloggett, with O’Donnell looking beaten.

The hosts were starting to find their way into the game though, and manufactured their first opportunity before the quarter hour mark. A Dylan Watts through ball found Georgie Kelly. The frontman's cross was purposefully placed onto the head of Jason McClelland but the winger's effort was well stopped by Ramblers keeper Paul Hunt.

Lehane was very much getting the better of Dan Tobin down the Students left in the early going. A menacing cross from Stephen Christopher was again met by the winger, but he was again unable to direct it goal wards and it trickled to safety.

Midway through the opening period came the hosts best chance thus far. A McClelland corner from the left was met by the leaping Sloggett but his header dipped agonisingly wide of Hunts post with the keeper beaten.

As the half wore on, the hosts began to dominate proceedings. A lung busting run from midfield by skipper O’Neill found Watts, and he in turn sprayed the ball left to McClelland.

The wide man pushed momentarily towards goal before unleashing a laser sighted goal ward effort which Hunt tipped expertly over the crossbar.

Three minutes after the restart, the hosts took the lead with a fantastic strike. McClelland played a short pass from the left to Sloggett at the edge of the area.

His low effort seemed to catch out the unsighted Hunt and nestled in the bottom corner to the delight of the sparse home support.

54 minutes in and the hosts had a superb second. McClelland was again at the heart of the build up, Chris McCarthy upending the winger at the edge of the area.

Up stepped skipper O’Neill to curl home a magnificent free kick, Hunt’s despairing fingertips not enough to deny the Students a second.

Cobh had continued to stay in touch barely, with fleeting moments of quality all they could really muster. O’Connor’s left footed strike forcing a save from O’Donnell. But in truth it was quite tame.

Eighteen minutes from time, McClelland’s tormenting of Ramblers continued as he laid on the Student's third goal of the evening. He got the better of Charlie Flemming down the UCD left before floating a low cross to the back post for substitute Swan to volley home from close range past a purplexed Hunt.

Ramblers faint hopes of a revival nearly got a boost just a minute later. O’Connor slid through substitute Jonny Creamer but his right footed effort slid wide of a beaten O’Donnell’s post.

With just nine minutes remaining, Ramblers were handed an unlikely lifeline. O’Donnell claimed a through ball from under the nose of Creamer. As the stopper was getting up though, he kicked out at the Ramblers sub and referee Michael O’Connor pointed to the spot and gave O’Donnell his marching orders.

Central defender Josh Collins took the gloves and faced O’Connor for the penalty. He guessed right but the Ramblers skippers effort was too powerful and brought Stephen Henderson’s side back within two.

That was the only time Collins was tested late on as the hosts hung on for a vital three points. The result leaves the hosts fourth, one point and place above their visitors.

UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Adam Harney, Tomas Boyle, Maxi Kouogun (Josh Collins 34), Daniel Tobin; Jason McClelland, Gary O’Neill, Dylan Watts, Greg Sloggett, Kieran Marty Waters (Ryan Swan 68); Georgie Kelly (Jason Byrne 76)

Subs not used: Conor Kearns (GK), Sean Byrne, Jack Watson.

Booked: None

Sent off: O’Donnell (81)

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Charlie Fleming, Cian Kingston, Chris McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Rob Lehane, Jason Abbott, Shane O’Connor, Stephen Christopher, Eoin McGreevy; Markus Gustavsson (Jonny Creamer 62)

Subs not used: Ben O’Riordan (GK), Evan Galvin, David Curran, David Browne.

Booked: Abbott (62), Creamer (90)

Sent off: None

Referee: Michael O’Connor

Attendance: 200 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jason McClelland (UCD)

You can see Laszlo Geczo's photos from the game by clicking here.