UCD extended their lead at the top of the First Division with a 3-2 win over Wexford at Belfield on Friday night. The Students dominated the first-half, and in truth, the two goal deficit flattered the visitors at half-time. But Damien Lock’s side
UCD extended their lead at the top of the First Division with a 3-2 win over Wexford at Belfield on Friday night.
The Students dominated the first-half, and in truth, the two goal deficit flattered the visitors at half-time. But Damien Lock’s side continued to battle, and they had chances to earn a point in a hectic second-half.
UCD were ahead as early as the fourth minute. There was a slip in the Wexford defence, which allowed O’Connor a huge amount of space. He ran down the right wing, before crossing for Jason McClelland to finish from five yards.
O’Connor’s part in the second goal was even more impressive. He beat a Wexford man on the edge of the box, to give himself some space. He could have pulled the trigger himself, but instead pulled it back for Georgie Kelly to score his sixth goal in three games.
Wexford were given a life line with thirty minutes gone. Aaron Dobbs burst into the box from the right-hand side, before being downed by Josh Collins. Dobbs dusted himself down before hitting a lovely penalty into the top left corner.
But UCD would restore their two goal cushion before the break. Again O’Connor was involved, as he made a fine run though the middle of the park. He laid the ball off for McClelland, who in turn put the ball into the box for Gary O’Neill to run on to.
The College skipper made no mistake, finishing smartly into the right corner of the net. College started the second-half brightly, but Wexford cut the deficit once more. Shane Barnes played the ball into Mark Slater, who unleashed a powerful effort.
It beat Kearns, with the help of the post, to set us up for an interesting final forty minutes. Wexford had a real purple patch in the middle of the second period, and UCD needed some great defending from Tobin, Scales, and Collins at different stages to keep them ahead.
They held on, and the result between Shels and Drogheda leaves them four clear at the top of the table this evening.
