A DRAMATIC 88th minute goal by substitute Sean Russell gave UCD another vital three points in a narrow victory over bottom of the table Drogheda United,

The Students eased away from the relegation zone with a hard-earned victory at the UCD Bowl thanks to the goal by 17 year old Russell, son of College boss Martin Russell. The teenager let fly from the edge of the box to grab College's third victory of the season.      

       College had an early chance when a dangerous cross from the right by winger Dean Marshall on 14 minutes enabled Robbie Benson to get in a diving header from ten yards just inches wide of the upright.

       Marshall and Benson then again cleverly combined to set up a chance for the latter, only for the midfielder's effort to be brilliantly pushed round the post by alert Drogheda 'keeper Steven Trimble.

       Drogheda might have taken the lead on 28 minutes when a long ball out of defence by Cillian Thompson put Mark O'Brien in the clear. But 'keeper Ger Barron was able to run thirty yards from his goal to win the race for possession and boot the ball away to safety.

       But the visitors took the lead on the half hour when after a foul by defender Yael Haro, Stephen McCrossan's free on the right was not properly cleared by the College defence and David Freeman was quickest to react, shooting home from close range at the near post.

         The Students had a promising start to the second half and were level on 52 minutes when an inswinging corner by Marshall on the left was powerfully headed home by unmarked midfielder Robbie Creevy.              

         Then a long deep cross by defender Ciaran Nangle caused problems for the Drogheda defence with 'keeper Trimble relieved to push the ball away before sliding into his own net.

         But it was Russell who was to grab all the late glory when he accepted a pass from Paul Corry to let fly from the edge of the box for a dramatic winner.                  

UCD - Barron; O'Conor, Leahy, Haro, Nangle; Marshall, Creevy, Corry, Benson (Russell 73), Meenan (Colton 85); Rusk.  

Drogheda Utd - Trimble; Nolan, Ekanem, McNally, Hand (McEntaggart 85); McCrossan, Gannon, O'Brien, Thompson (Flynn 58); Hanaphy (McNamara 85), Freeman.

Referee - Tom Connolly (Dublin).