DROGHEDA UNITED'S fine vein of recent form continued when they recorded a well deserved first home win in the league in twelve months against UCD.

UCD began with real purpose and were denied early on when keeper Stephen Trimble did really well to push Paul O’Connor’s pile driver over.

Graham Rusk should have had a hat-trick inside the opening twenty minutes as he sent a header wide, saw his close range shot saved by Trimble and guided another effort the wrong side of the post when he really should have scored.

Drogheda gradually shook off the cobwebs and created their first chance after Tiarnan Mulvenna set up Philip Hand who sent a thunderbolt towards the target which Gerard Barron saved.

Trimble then unimpressively scooped Robbie Benson’s drive out for a corner before at the other end Mulvenna sent a shot wide and saw another effort stopped by Barron.

With four minutes to go to the break United grabbed the lead following a good move down the right that saw Colin O’Brien send in the cross which Mulvenna drove to the net.

Proceedings had barely got under way when the students half-time substitution almost paid dividends immediately when Samir Belhout outpaced the home defence only to be denied by Trimble who made a crucial one handed save.

UCD levelled on 57 minutes following a corner from the left which Belhout headed back across goal for Rusk who guided his close range header home.

The visitors joy was short lived however as the home side restored their advantage within a couple of minutes when Dinny Corcoran sent a fine ball through the heart of their defence for Mulvenna who raced through to finish superbly.

Drogheda were reduced to ten men thirteen minutes from time after Mark O’Brien was harshly yellow carded for a second time in the space of seven minutes.

With a superb display of defending numerically disadvantaged Drogheda not alone kept their opponents at bay but struck for a third time deep into stoppage time when Colin O’Brien cut in from the right to score a wonderful goal.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, C O’Brien, Hand, McNally, Ekanem, Gannon, M O’Brien, Quigley (McCrossan 85), Corcoran, Mulvenna (Nolan 80), Freeman.

UCD: Barron, Harding, Nangle, D O’Connor, Leahy, Corry, Marshall, P O’Connor, Rusk, Benson, Meenan (Belhout 46).

REFEREE: P Suuton (Clare)