ATHLONE Town gave themselves a major boost by beating UCD by a single goal at a bitterly cold St Mel's Park last night.

The only goal of the game came six minutes into the second half when Tommy Gaynor drove home from close range after the UCD goalkeeper Seamus Kelly could only parry a 20 yard strike from Warren Parkes.

The students went close on a number of occasions in the first half and the game was just barely a minute old when a Michael O'Byrne shot cannoned off the upright with Athlone goalkeeper, Shane Curran, well beaten.

Athlone had legitimate claims for a penalty when Gaynor appeared to have been tripped just outside the six yard box, but referee Denis McArdle waved away the claims.

After Athlone had scored in the 51st minute, UCD went close to equalising on a number of occasions.