26th April 2010

UCD v Drogheda United

Match Report

Airtricity League of Ireland
UCD 2 Drogs 0

The Drogs started their second round league programme as they did the first, with a comprehensive defeat by the skilful students. This was always going to be a difficult match, and our extensive injury list did not help. Colm Smith started up front and his play over the 90 minutes was one of the bright sparks in what turned into a very dull evening for the Drogs. The didisappointing defeat to Galway on Friday seemed to spur us on in the first half, where we dominated for long periods and we created enough chances to take the lead, but ended up going in at the break 2-0 down. Colm started up front with John Flood on the left and Duffy on the right. Jamie Harris's return to the centre of defence enabled Joe Kendrick to drop to full back and Brian King joined Brendan McGill and Mick Daly in midfield.

We started very well, pressing the home side at every opportunity and Colm held the ball up well and we looked good going forward. For the first fifteen minutes we dominated midfield and our two best chances came on 25 when Mick Daly shot over and two minutes later when a great corner saw Alan McNally inexplicably miss a free header a yard out from goal - he appeared to be hindered in some way. The half appeared to be coming to a nil-nil conclusion when out of the blue on 40 minutes Joe Kendrick found himself out of position in the box and his tackle was somewhat harshly adjudged to be a penalty. And, after all our hard work we went in 1-0 down.

The second half didn't start too brightly for us either when our defence parted in the middle (as it has done a couple of times this season) and UCD were given the freedom of the Park to score their second. And it went downhill from there... our attempts to get back into the game were not up to scratch and the late substitution of Ryan Brennan for Brendan McGill appeared to be too little, too late.

Team: Murphy, Treacy, Kendrick, McNally, Harris, King, McGill (Brennan 77), Daly, Duffy, Flood, Smith.

Subs not used: Skinner, Matondo,Damien Brennan, Kierans.