Report: UCD 1 - 3 Drogheda United

Two first half goals from Aidan O'Keeffe set Drogheda United on their way to their first away win of the season at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night.

Two penalties brought two further goals that saw the reigning champions, for the first time this season, look like a side that can be involved in the race for the title. UCD never really got going but, after scoring on the stroke of half time, they would have begun the second half with intentions of making a real game of it. That never happened and Drogheda ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Paul Doolin was forced into giving recent signing Jamie Ewing his first league start. Fin Miko Vilmunen picked up an injury late in the week and Dan Connor was deemed not quite ready for a return. Joe Kendrick again started on the left hand side of midfield - with Ollie Cahill behind him at left back. Aidan O'Keeffe made his second start of the season - upfront alongside Eamon Zayed.

UCD reverted back to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation. Timmy Purcell came back into the starting line up and winger Shane Fitzgerald retained his place on the right hand side of midfield. Brian King was preferred to Alan McNally in midfield. Ian Bermingham was still nursing a groin problem so Killian Gallagher continued at left back.

The game started slowly and ten minutes passed before either side posed any threat. Paul Byrne flicked on a through ball but Timmy Purcell was slow off the mark and Ewings collected at the edge of his area.

A few minutes later, left sided players Kendrick and Cahill combined for the first time. Kendrick released Cahill and instead of stopping there the ex Darlington full back bombed on towards the UCD goal. Cahill took the ball wide before neatly finding Kendrick in the area, but his cross come shot was blocked and rolled out for a corner. The pair combined again to set up Zayed at the far post, but he embarrassingly mis-timed his header - much to the delight of UCD keeper Matt Gregg.

Kendrick and Shane Robinson then linked up to good effect to provide Zayed with another opening - but again his finishing was poor. Zayed then made a mess of another half chance when the ball got caught under his feet on the edge of the box.

UCD were finding the going tough but they did work another opening for themselves when Killian Gallagher crossed for Paul Byrne. Byrne, with two league goals this season, rose well, but wasnt able to find the target with his downward header.

With ten minutes remaining in the second half Robinson got his head to an attempted UCD clearance. Fully aware that O'Keeffe was lurking behind him Zayed flicked the ball on and from inside the box O'Keeffe fired home, low down to the keepers right hand side. With the ball half cleared UCD had moved up and hadnt paid the appropriate attention to the loitering O'Keeffe who was hoping the ball would come his way.

The Students looked to hit back immediately and but for a fine save from Ewings would have been level in a matter of minutes. Byrne again won the ball in the air, this time from an Alan Mahon free kick, and headed it back across the face of the goal. Midfielder King raced on to it and from a tight angle did extremely well to wrap his foot around the ball and hit it so sweetly towards the near post.

With the half time whistle expected the away side doubled their lead - but not before Zayed lost his footing when he was in on goal with just the keeper to beat. Right back Brian Shelley advanced forward for one of the few times in the half and from his cross O'Keeffe powered an unstoppable header past Gregg. UCDs marking was again slack.

After playing poorly for forty five minutes UCD were handed a lifeline in added on time. Pacy Fitzgerald picked up the loose ball in the box and knocked it past Graham Gartland. Gartland went to ground when he perhaps shouldnt have and referee Derek Tomney pointed to the spot. Ewings saved Mahons penalty but could do nothing as the right back calmly passed the rebound into the net.

With the second half less than two minutes old Gallagher was adjudged by the referee and his assistant to have fouled Robinson as he attempted to make room for the cross on the right hand side of the penalty area. It looked harsh on the young full back - just as he did the week previous when he gave a penalty away at Turners Cross. Robinson took the kick himself and restored Droghedas two goal advantage.

Drogheda looked comfortable for the rest of the game. UCD kept on working hard but lacked the necessary spark in the final third. Byrne continued winning practically everything in the air, he headed wide again from a McWalter cross, and was booked seconds later for a lunge on Shelley.

Midway through the half Zayed finally hit the target and worked Gregg when he turned smartly at the edge of the box and took a quick shot. With just a few minutes left on the clock substitute Ibrahama Iyane Thiam put Conor Kenna under pressure and the UCD captain was only able to half clear - the ball came to Zayed but his volley was blocked bravely by Alan McNally.

UCD: Matt Gregg; Alan Mahon, Conor Kenna, Brian Shortall (Alan McNally 67), Killian Gallagher (Darren Forsythe 88); Shane Fitzgerald, Ronan Finn, Brian King, Pat McWalter; Paul Byrne, Timmy Purcell (Derek Doyle 67).
Subs not used: Billy Brrennan, Ian Bermingham.

Booked: Byrne, King, Gallagher, Shortall.

Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Brian Shelley, Jason Gavin, Graham Gartland, Ollie Cahill; Shane Robinson (Shane Barrett 88), Stuart Byrne, Paul Keegan, Joe Kendrick (Richie Baker 69); Eamon Zayed, Aidan OKeeffe (Ibrahim Thiam Iyane 82).
Subs not used: Dan Connor, Adam Hughes.

Booked: O'Keefe.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 717