REPORT: Wexford 0-8 UCD

First Division leaders U.C.D. stretched their advantage in swashbuckling style as they cruised to an emphatic victory over Wexford FC in a sun-drenched Ferrycarrig Park.

First-half goals from Liam Scales and Yoyo Mahdy had the Students 2-0 up at the interval, and a Jason McClelland hat-trick, a Gary O'Neill double and another strike from Mahdy after the change of ends wrapped up a thoroughly convincing victory.

The hosts made a decent start and had a sight of goal in the tenth minute when Shane Barnes played in Dean George, but goalkeeper Conor Kearns was quickly off his line to smother the danger.

However, the Students got their noses in front in the 13th minute, when Liam Scales rose highest to nod in a Jason McClelland corner. Once the visitors took the lead they never looked like losing their vice-like grip on the game and Kevin Coffey went close to doubling their advantage, but his shot was saved by the outstretched leg of Kealan Gaffney.

The second goal did come with 28 minutes on the clock. Daire O'Connor went on a marauding run down the right wing and when his angled drive came back of the far post, Yoyo Mahdy was on hand to force the ball home from close range.

Jason McClelland made it 3-0 in the 58th minute, running on to a Kevin Coffey cross and finishing at the second attempt after his initial effort came back off the post. McClelland quickly added a second, with Coffey again the provider, and captain Garry O'Neill then got in on the act pouncing on a defensive error before firing the ball to the net.

Mahdy then grabbed his second, nodding in O'Neill's cross, before O'Neill also doubled up to make it a magnificent seven in the 74th minute. Five minutes later Gaffney was picking the ball out of his net for an eighth time, with McClelland running on to substitute Conor Crowley's pass and finding the net to complete a second-half hat-trick.