GRAHAM RUSK scored a dramatic late winner as UCD won a nine-goal thriller at UCD Bowl against Drogheda United.

The Students led 2-0 then fell 4-2 behind to Mick Cooke's Drogheda - who also missed a penalty from Philip Hand in the 36th minute - but bagged three goals in the final ten minutes to claim the three points.

College were rewarded for their enterprising early football on 20  minutes when Paul Corry opened the scoring with a header past 'keeper Robbie Duggan.

       Just five minutes later College striker Samir Belhout bagged an identical goal when he beat Duggan with a header at the near post.

     Drogheda were handed a lifeline on 36 minutes when Tiernan Mulvenna was bundled over inside the box and referee Neil Doyle awarded the penalty..

    Philip Hand's spot kick rebounded off  and rolled out to safety.

          Defender Gavin Brennan handed Drogheda a lifeline in added time  of  the fist half  after a goalmouth scramble with the College defence in disarray, he fired home from close range.

         Drogheda were a rejuvenated side in the second half and were level after Mick O'Brien's effort hit the woodwork to allow striker Jordan  White to side foot the ball into the empty net..

      Mick Cooke’s side really were flying at this point and three minutes later they took the lead when Hand made amends for his earlier penalty miss with a beautifully struck shot from just over twenty yards to put the visitors in front for the first time.

     And on 64 minutes Drogheda extended their lead to 4-2 when Brennan picked out Lee Lynch in midfield and after taking the ball forward his strike fizzed into the back of Mark McGinley’s net

     But suddenly College were back in the game when Darren Meenan fired home from close range..

     The Students were confident now  and again were level on 84 minutes when midfielder Robbie Creevy popped up to head home Paul O’Conor’s cross and set up a nail biting finish to the game.

        Dean Marshall and Hugh Douglas linked up on the right hand side before Marshall whipped the ball in to substitute Graham Rusk in the final minute. He slotted home to give his side a massive victory which pulls them four points away from Drogheda in the fight to avoid the drop.

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

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

Referee : N Doyle(Dublin)