UCD 1 Bray Wanderers 0:CIARÁN KILDUFF'S opportunist, 50th-minute goal was enough to seal victory for UCD in a low-key clash with still pointless Bray Wanderers in a contest of plenty of youthful endeavour but lacking finesse at the Belfield Bowl last night.
The visiting side had an early chance when a long ball from defender Daire Doyle saw College goalkeeper Billy Brennan slip on the difficult playing surface, only for striker Jake Kelly to shoot into the side netting when well-placed for a goal.
The visitors had another chance on 19 minutes when a low cross from the right by James Kavanagh was misfired past the upright from 14 yards by David O’Neill.
The Students did have a chance of breaking the deadlock on 23 minutes when central defender Andy Boyle put in a dangerous cross from the left, only for midfielder Greg Bolger to shoot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Moments later Bolger was guilty of another miss when put in the clear by winger Graham Rush only to again be narrowly off target with his long-range effort on goal.
Defender Ciarán Nagle then had a good burst through midfield only for striker Kilduff to fire over the top when well placed for a UCD goal.
College were desperately unlucky not to grab the lead on 39 minutes when a Robbie Creevy effort was blocked on the line, with goalkeeper Brian Kane then producing excellent, double reflex saves to prevent Graham Rusk opening the home side’s account of the evening.
But it was the home side who took a deserved lead on 50 minutes.
In a hectic scramble inside the Bray box, Creevy and Rusk had shots blocked before the ball fell kindly to Kilduff who made no mistake from six yards with a shot to the corner of the net.
The home team almost had a second goal on 62 minutes when winger Peter McMahon took advantage of a poor Bray clearance only to fire just over the top from 20 yards.
Substitute Michael Leahy then wasted a glorious opportunity after bursting though the middle only to be denied in a one-on-one by goalkeeper Kane.
Substitutes Keith Ward and Chris Mulhall went close for the home side in the late stages as Martin Russell’s side took a grip of the game to seal a second Premier Division victory of the season.
It promises to be a tough season for Eddie Gormley’s Wanderers side and it doesn’t look like it will get any better when his team take on Dundalk in a rearranged league game at the Carlisle Grounds on Monday night.
Newly promoted UCD have started to find their legs in the top flight and there is no more promising young striker in the country than Kilduff.
It is hardly a wonder that Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane has been linked with a move for the Dubliner when the season in England ends and summer transfer window opens across the water.
UCD: Brennan; Shortall, E McMillan (Leahy 45), Boyle, Nagle; Creevy, Bogler, McMahon; D McMillan (Ward 74), Kilduff, Rusk (Mulhall 74).
BRAY WANDERERS: Kane; D Doyle, O’Connor, Tresson, Massey; Baker (Rodriguez 76), Kavanagh, D O’Neill, Shields; Kelly (S O’Neill 85) , R Doyle (Mulroy 63).
Referee: Robert Rogers (Dublin).
