UCD 5 - 4 Drogheda United

• Conor Kelly
• Sun, Sep 04 2011




UCD came out on top in a nine goal thriller with Drogheda United at Belfield on Saturday evening which now sees them go four points clear of their relegation rivals in the Premier Division table.

The hosts got off to a bright start with some neat passing in the centre of the park as Paul Corry and Robbie Creevy marshalled the game. And they were rewarded for their enterprising football on twenty minutes when Corry opened the scoring with a header past Robbie Duggan.

Just five minutes later Samir Belhout bagged an identical goal when he too beat Duggan with his head and the Students looked to be cruising to a vital victory. However, they wouldn’t have it all their own way as Drogheda fired a few warning shots across their bows. First, Tiarnan Mulvenna’s effort was deflected just over the cross bar, and then Jordan White’s effort struck the same bar just moments later.

Then on thirty six minutes Drogheda were handed a lifeline when Mulvenna was bundled over inside the box and referee Neil Doyle had no choice but to award them a penalty. Philip hand stepped up as he looked to pull his side back to within a goal but his penalty struck the upright and rolled out to safety.

This was only a sign of things to come from the visitors as just nine minutes later when UCD failed to clear their lines, Gavin Brennan poked home to give his side hope going in at half time.

Drogheda had a renewed confidence in the second period as they pressed UCD hard and looked to regain possession at every opportunity. This approach had its rewards as on fifty eight minutes Mark O’Brien’s shot came back off the upright and fell to White who side footed the ball into the empty net to level the tie.

Mick Cooke’s side really were flying at this point and three minutes later they took the lead when Hand made amends for his earlier penalty miss with a beautifully struck shot from just over twenty yards to put the visitors in front for the first time. And in the sixty fourth minute Drogheda extended their lead to 4-2 when Gavin Brennan picked out Lee Lynch in midfield and, after taking the ball forward, his strike fizzed into the back of Mark McGinley’s net.

Drogheda were cruising and, just as UCD had looked like they would ease to victory in the first half, Drogs were seemingly on the way to a huge victory in their relegation battle.

But with ten minutes left on the clock Darren Meenan gave the Students a lifeline when his shot rocketed into the back of Duggan’s net. This goal proved pivotal for the game as UCD’s confidence was given a massive boost and they then pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

And that’s what they got in the eighty fourth minute when Robbie Creevy popped up to head home Paul O’Conor’s cross and set up a nail biting finish to the game. Drogheda needed a spark to ignite them again but couldn’t find it as, with just a minute left in the game, they conceded their fifth of the day.

Dean Marshall and Hugh Douglas linked up on the right hand side before Marshall whipped the ball in to substitute Graham Rusk who slotted home to give his side a massive three points which pull them four points away from Drogheda in the fight to avoid the drop.

UCD: Mark McGinley; Sean Harding (Hugh Douglas 50), Daniel Ledwith, Thomas Boyle, Michael Leahy; Dean Marshall, Paul Corry, Robert Creevy, Paul O’Conor, Darren Meenan; Samir Belhout (Graham Rusk, 78).
Subs Not Used: James Kavanagh, Barry McCabe, Stephen Doyle, Gerard Barron, Robbie Benson.

Bookings: Douglas (67).

Drogheda United: Robbie Duggan; Stephen Quigley, Philip Hand, Alan McNally, Brian Gannon; Lee Lynch, Peter McMahon (Shane Fitzgerald 70), Mark O’Brien, Jordan White (Daniel Corcoran 74), Gavin Brennan; Tiernan Mulvenna (Shane Dolan 40).
Subs Not Used: Robbie Gaul, Stephen Trimble, Robbie Clarke.

Bookings: White (33), G Brennan (71), Gannon (85).

Referee : Neil Doyle.
Attendance: 258.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Robert Creevy (UCD).