UCD 5 Drogheda United 4:A DRAMATIC last-minute goal by substitute Graham Rusk gave UCD victory in a nine-goal thriller at the Belfield Bowl on Saturday to help the students move four points clear of ninth-placed Drogheda United.

“It was a crazy game. We had a good start when going 2-0 up and then had to dig ourselves out of a hole when finding ourselves 4-2 down. It was a great response to score three goals in the last 10 minutes,” said College boss Martin Russell.

College were 2-0 ahead on 25 minutes after headed goals from Paul Corry and Samire Belhout. But Drogheda, who missed a penalty on 36 minutes when Philip Hand’s spot-kick hit the crossbar, pulled a goal back seconds before the interval when winger Gavin Brennan was on target with a close range effort.

The Louth men then went on a scoring rampage with goals from Jordan White (59), Hand (61) and Lee Lynch (64). But College pulled a goal back on 80 minutes with a shot from Darren Meenan and were level on 84 minutes when Robbie Creevy headed home Paul O’Connor’s cross.

Dean Marshall and Hugh Douglas then linked up on the right to supply substitute Rusk who calmly slotted home from close range in the final minute.

“We took our foot off the pedal when we scored those three second-half goals and let UCD back into the game. Although Galway are still bottom of the table, we can take nothing for granted in the battle to avoid relegation,” said Drogheda boss Mick Cooke.

UCD:McGinley, Harding ( Douglas 50), Boyle, Leahy, Ledwith; Marshall, Corry, Creevy, P. O'Conor, Meenan; Belhout ( Rusk 78).

DROGHEDA UNITED:Duggan, Quigley, Hand, McNally, Gannon, Lynch, McMahon (Fitzgerald 70), O'Brien, White (Corcoran 74), Mulvenna ( Dolan 40), Brennan.

Referee: Neil Doyle(Dublin).