Molloy stoops to conquer UCD

Trevor Molloy provided the necessary guile to score the only goal of the game at Richmond Park last night and restore St Patrick's Athletic's leadership of the Premier Division, albeit until tomorrow at least.

Molloy stooped low to glance home a header from Jeff Clarke 61st minute right wing cross to give an intriguing match the gloss of the goal it cried out for from early on.

The first-half promised more than it delivered with both sides passing the ball and playing football, though lacking a cutting edge in their respective attacks.

St Patrick's were the more disappointed at the break having had the clearest openings snuffed out by a mixture of good goalkeeping and some bad finishing.

The sides swapped half-chances early on before UCD keeper Barry Ryan made a superb reaction save to tip a well-struck dipping volley from Martin Russell over the crossbar in the ninth minute.

Eoin Bennis then failed to punish some sloppy defending to give UCD the lead when he got in behind the slack St Patrick's back three on 19 minutes; blasting over the top when he had time to get his shot on target.

St. Patrick's settled down and basically ran the game until the half-time whistle, though failing to gain any tangible advantage. Alan Mahon did well to block a goalbound shot from Molloy after Russell's free-kick swept over the UCD defence on 24 minutes.

Ian Gilzean committed the miss of the match after 38 minutes. Clarke's deep cross to the back post was cleverly headed back to Gilzean by Russell but the division's topscorer scuffed his shot which went harmlessly wide.

After a sluggish start to the second half St Patrick's went on to control the game with Gilzean and Gormley missing chances before Molloy eased the tension for the home fans with the winner. Clarke and Gilzean, again, then wasted further chances to add to St. Patrick's winning margin.

St Patrick's: Wood; Hawkins, Lynch, McGuinness; Clarke, Gormley, Russell, Osam, Doyle; Molloy, Gilzean. Sub: Reilly for Gilzean (86 mins).

UCD: Ryan; Delaney, Mahon, McDonnell; McLoughlin, Kavanagh, Lynch, Dunne, McAuley; Bennis, O'Byrne. Sub: O'Donnell for Dunne (76 mins.).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).