UCD 2 - 1 Drogheda United

UCD ensured a six point haul over the bank holiday weekend as goals from Robbie Creevy and Sean Russell cancelled out David Freeman’s opener for Drogheda United at the Belfield Bowl on Monday evening.

UCD made five changes from the team who faced Drogheda United on Monday last in the EA Sports Cup. While United made four changes for the League meeting.

A goal from David Freeman after thirty minutes had Drogheda United ahead at the break. A free kick by Stephen McCrossan was headed back across the front of the ‘students’ goal, where it was met by the head of Freeman who volleyed home from point blank range.

UCD had a number of chances throughout. With 14 minutes on the clock, Robbie Benson and Dean Marshall combined well to carve out a goal scoring opportunity. Marshall provided the cross in from the left, however Benson headed left and wide of the goal mouth. Steven Trimble had to be awake to earn his stripes in the 21st minute, the young goal keeper doing well when a set piece for the home side, one of many in the game, was missed by defender Philip Hand with Yael Haro unlucky not to have done better.

Again the students’ linked up on the cusp of half time, this time with Robbie Creevy involved. Creevy sent a long hopeful ball into the danger area which played in Dean Marshall, but the latter could not connect and even up the scoring. However, seven minutes after the break it was ‘even stevens’ as Creevy put his name on the scoreboard. Drogs defender Mark Nolan conceded a corner which Dean Marshall took, Creevy heading powerfully into the net from 15 yards.

Perhaps referee Tom Connolly could be criticized for not playing advantage on 66, as UCD were on a quick break and, minutes later, it was again the home side looking to get forward. UCD captain Leahy passed to Dean Marshall in the midfield and continued his run but Marshall decided to shoot from distance, never troubling the goal keeper.

There were more moments of concern for the Drogheda rearguard as the game progressed such as when goalkeeper Trimble found himself underneath a long and somewhat speculative lob towards his back post. He looked to have it covered but ended up in his own net, punching out only as far as Paul O'Conor whose cross back in was lacking. The final fifteen minutes played out relatively uneventfully. McNamarra and McEnteggart came off the bench for Drogheda, while Stephen Doyle and Sean Russell replaced Meenan and Benson for the ‘students’. One a piece it remained, that was until substitute Russell popped up with a thunderous winner two minutes from full time, thrashing the ball into the far corner off the Drogheda net from all of 25 yards..

So it’s three wins out of three for the students’ who while Drogheda endured another disappointing night.

UCD: Ger Barron; Paul O’Conor, Michael Leahy, Yael Haro, Ciaran Nangle; Dean Marshall, Robbie Creevy, Paul Corry, Robbie Benson (Sean Russell, 73), Darren Meenan (Stephen Doyle, 85); Graham Rusk.
Subs not used: Mark McGinley, Sean Harding, Sean Russell, Daniel Ledwith, Samir Belhout.
Bookings: Haro (30).

Drogheda United: Stephen Trimble; Mark Nolan, Philip Hand (Ronan McEnteggart, 85), Victor Ekanem, Alan McNally; Cillian Thompson (Jake Flynn, 58), Brian Gannon, Stephen McCrossan, Mark O’Brien; Darragh Hanaphy (Darragh McNamara, 85), David Freeman.
Subs not used: David Quirke, Robbie Gaul, Colin O’Brien, Sean Skelly.
Bookings: M O’Brien (63), Nolan (64), Flynn (68).

Referee: Tom Connolly.
Attendance: 251.
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paul Corry (UCD).