Galway United 3 UCD 4:CRISIS-HIT Galway United slumped to a 15th league defeat on the trot last night as the visitors took all three points in a seven- goal thriller at Terryland Park to all but secure their Premier Division status for next season.

The home side, forced to place all professional players on the transfer list due to unpaid wages, started brightly and had Martin Russell’s side on the back foot for the first 10 minutes, but they conceded a soft penalty which Dean Marshall converted to hand the initiative to the visitors.

The Tribesmen’s response was almost immediate, Bobby Ryan doing the hard work down the right before setting up Gary Curran, and Alan Murphy was on hand to divert his shot home from three yards for the equaliser.

The Students got their noses in front again in the 29th minute thanks in no small part to a howler from United goalkeeper Greg Fleming, who punched Darren Meenan’s cross towards his own goal, with Graham Rusk getting the final touch on the line.

Rusk extended the visitors’ advantage five minutes later, firing home from six yards after great work down the right by strike partner Robbie Benson as the United defence was exposed.

But Bobby Ryan threw the home side a lifeline just before half-time, getting on the end of Karl Moore’s cross with a diving header.

Cillian Morrison restored UCD’s two-goal advantage, chipping Fleming from the edge of the box in the 78th minute. Murphy pulled another back for United from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. However they couldn’t manage to find an equaliser.

GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; Preston-Kelly, Maher, Walsh, Kelly; Ryan, Curran, Sinnott (Dusi 69), Moore; Murphy, Caldwell (Gilmore 78).

UCD: Barron; Nangle, Leahy, D O’Connor, Russell (Boyle 74); Marshall, P O’Connor, Corry (inj, Morrison 57), Meenan; Rusk, Benson (Ledwith half-time).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).