UCD were the victors in the Brandywell on Friday, viagra securing their fifth win in six games and cementing a firm foothold above the danger zone. A 2-1 win courtesy of goals from David McMillan and Barry McCabe sees the Students go ten points clear of bottom-feeders Dundalk and two points above Bray Wanderers in tenth.
UCD enjoyed the lion’s share of chances early on. Shane McEleney carelessly misplaced a pass allowing Robbie Benson to proceed on goal. Benson gave the ball to McMillan who blazed over from 15 yards. Danny Ledwith cut in from left hand side shortly after and had his shot parried by Doherty leading to a corner.
Derry had an opportunity on five minutes, when some great work on left by Mark Brolly let him beat Hugh Douglas. Unfortunately for the home side, his square pass to Barry McNamee flew wide of the target. Before the half hour mark, Derry’s Ruaidhri Higgins picked Barry Molloy out with a cross-field pass. Molloy, advancing from right back, cut inside but his shot soared over the bar.
UCD broke the deadlock with 36 minutes on the clock. McCabe timed an excellent run behind the Derry defence. Slipped through by Ledwith and faced with a one on one with Doherty. McCabe struck the ball across the keeper and in off the post from twelve yards out.
It was 2-0 to the Students within 15 seconds of the restart with David McMillan capitalising expertly on a superb pass from Benson. Daniel Ledwith could have made it three when he cut inside and had his shot well saved by the Derry custodian.
Derry pulled one back through half-time substitute Kevin Deery. Deery profited from poor marking at the back post as he headed in from a corner. The home side had another chance through Duffy, who controlled the ball on his chest on the right hand side of the penalty area before snatching at his shot which flew wide of the left post.
UCD keeper Ger Barron, freshly returned from a toe injury, put in a decent performance to snuff out a late flurry from the Candystripes. Stewart Greacen could and should have equalised late on, but volleyed wide from inside the box and the three points headed back to Belfield late on Friday night.
The Students’ recent surge of form has seen them claw themselves back from a precarious position at the foot of the table. Next up, they face Bohemians in the Bowl on Friday the 28th of September with the hope of continuing their hot streak.
– Amy Eustace
