League Report: UCD 3 - 2 Waterford

UCD made amends for last week’s home defeat with a hard fought win over Division One leaders Waterford FC. A light shower minutes before kick-off made the immaculate Belfield pitch even quicker and allowed both sides move the ball around at pace.

Despite the optimal conditions, chances were hard to come by as both teams took turns shutting each other down. College were looking to build from their own half, although one risk too many saw possession forfeited to David McDaid, whose attempted through ball was cut out by Maxi Kouogon with Mark O’Sullivan in clear space behind the defence.

A minute later the hosts were in front. From the left wing, the ball found its way to Jason McClelland. For a split second the winger looked like he was going to move the ball out to the right wing; that is until he cut the ball onto his left foot before unleashing a rasping shot. The ball took a deflection before skimming off the greasy surface and past the wrong footed Matthew Connor in the Waterford goal.

The rest of the half settled down into what was more like an arm wrestling contest. Both sides showed some inventiveness in attack, but the final ball was often too quick to allow for anything more decisive. Just on half time, Evan Osam danced down the left side leaving a number of Waterford players static. His cross, which was just as evasive as he, was cut back and was not met until Greg Sloggett’s tame shot brought the half to a close.

The opening moments of the second half immediately signalled that this game was beginning to ignite. A slick one-two allowed McClelland to pull the ball back to Daire O’Connor. Unfortunately for him it was on his left foot and he never looked comfortable as he skied it over the Wateford cross bar.

The Students didn’t have to wait long for their second though. On 51, McClelland again found space in front of the back four. A simple pass to feet allowed him to swivel and unleash a thunderbolt which arrowed past the Matthew Connor’s helpless dive. While the strike was sweet, Waterford will be concerned that for the second time the UCD playmaker managed to find the space and time to pick out his shot deep in their half.

The crowd at the UCD Bowl were still waiting for the Waterford reaction and while there was plenty of endeavour on show, the visitors were still producing very little quality in the final third. With the wind at their back they didn’t seem as comfortable in the humid, blustery conditions as the home side.

On the 69^th minute Waterford’s evening got worse. Some more link up play on the left side allowed Jason McClelland to drive down the line before drilling another cross into the Waterford box. This time Kenny Browne was defending the near post and was there to cut it out. His touch to control the pass was as neat as it was ill advised. Georgie Kelly nicked in from the centre back’s blind side and Browne’s second touch saw him foul the striker. Greg Sloggett drilled the resultant penalty in off the crossbar.

Finally the Waterford reaction arrived, as Dean Walsh’s introduction immediately offered more life to the visitor’s attack. A floated ball into the UCD box rebounded off the post, but the scramble that followed only yielded a volley over following good pressure from Liam Scales. A minute later Waterford had one back. Another lofted ball into the box found David McDaid whose shot from a tight angle had just enough to carry is past Corbett.

The Blues had finally found some momentum and on 80 minutes they had another. This time McDaid picked the ball up outside the box. His run saw him glide over the ground and into the UCD penalty area. His finish was every bit as deft as the close control that carried him there and all of a sudden the visitors were within touching distance of an unlikely result.

However that was to be as close as Alan Reynolds men would come, as UCD did enough to shut the game and take the points. While the manner of the win will have given Collie O’Neills men renewed confidence, his team will need to offer up more consistent performances like this to reign in Waterford. Reynolds will be hoping tonight was a one off as his team dust themselves down ahead of next week’s visit to Shelbourne.

UCD: Niall Corbett; Josh Collins, Evan Osam, Maxi Kouogon, Liam Scales; Jason McClelland, Greg Slogett, Dan Tobin (Cian Kavanagh), Timmy Molloy (Sean Coyne 82); Georgie Kelly (Ben Hanrahan 88), Daire O’Connor.

Subs not used: Conor Kearns, Simon Power, Gareth Coughlan, Rob Manley

Booked: Timmy Molloy, Josh Collins

Waterford: Matthew Connor; Robin Dempsey Patrick McClean, Kenny Browne, John Martin (Gary Delaney 83); Anthony McAleavey, Garry Comerford (Kenny McEvoy), Shane O’Connor, Derek Daly, David McDaid; Mark O’Sullivan (Dean Walsh 71)

Subs not used: Conor Whittle, Owen Wall, Jack Lynch, Matt Sheehan

Booked: David McDaid, Kenny Browne,

Attendance:  369

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

Referee: Marc Lynch