UCD 1 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers overcame a difficult encounter against UCD in Belfield on Friday night with a late winner from Gary Twigg. His goal in the 85th minute was the Scotsman's second winner against The Students in four days.

A fast paced, frenetic match was full of chances, near misses and passion, with both sets of fans roaring their team on.

The Hoops got off to a flying start when James Chambers fired home a spectacular free kick in the eighth minute, after Stephen Bradley was taken down on the edge of the UCD box. His low, right footed curling shot sneaked past goalkeeper Billy Brennan's left post.

The hosts reply was instant. Straight away Dwayne Wilson galloped down the left flank and squared to Ciaran Kilduff at the edge of the box, but his snap shot was well saved by Alan Mannus.

Five minutes later, after a spell of pressure from the home side, they equalised. Mulhall found Corry in the centre of the park and his right footed shot was deflected off Kavanagh and spun cruelly past Mannus' right.

It was only the beginning of a wave of UCD pressure which lasted the entire half. With their tails up and after being dumped out of the EA Sports Cup on Monday by the visitors, they sensed another goal that could enable them to overtake The Hoops in the Airtricity Premier Division table.

Goalscorer Corry's free in was missed by everyone and just bounced wide of the right post. Mulhall, industrious as ever, got in behind the Rovers defence and pulled the ball back for Bolger, but Dan Murray did just enough to toe the ball wide. A quick counter attack by Dwayne Wilson for UCD nearly created a goal; after jinking inside past two players though, his shot was blocked. A Kilduff header needed to be touched over the bar by Mannus and from the resulting corner, Andy Boyle failed to connect properly with his header. Rovers only relieved the pressure only in the 42nd minute, Chambers shot from 25 yards flying high over the bar.

The students went into half time, probably disappointed not to be in front but encouraged by their attacking endeavour. It seemed that the break had come at the worst possible time for the students and maybe after such a good spell without going in front, they had missed their chance to take all three points and overtake the Hoops. Rovers for all their hard work and early goal had little possession and created few chances for their danger man Twigg who was anonymous for the first 45 minutes. With all good strikers however, there lies the ability to turn a game on its head with one moment of skill.

Rovers restarted the second half and were much brighter after what must have been an 'encouraging' team talk from manager Michael O'Neill. A sparkling one-two between James Chambers and Kavanagh allowed Chris Turner to cross, only for Brennan to palm the ball behind an incoming Billy Dennehy. The corner was met by Murray at the near post and scrambled clear from the goal line by a well placed Mulhall.

For all their good work early in the second half, Rovers were yet to find the breakthrough. It finally came after inspired substitutions by Michael O'Neill. Dessie Baker and Sean O'Connor both came on and were both involved in the winner.

A corner from the right was cleared at the near post, collected by O'Connor and sent back in. Baker then flicked the ball on to Twigg and he did what all good strikers do, controlling neatly and coolly slotted home past an onrushing Brennan.

A game of two halves for Rovers then, uninspired in the first half, then irresistible in the second, Gary Twigg's influence being the difference.

UCD: Brennan, Harding, Shortall, Boyle, E McMillan, Bolger, Mulhall, Corry, Kilduff (Creevy '72), D McMillan, Wilson (Fitzgerald '72).
Subs not used: Nangle, Leahy, Barron.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Flynn, Murray, Sives, Murphy, Kavanagh (O'Connor 61'), Chambers, Bradley, Dennehy (Stewart '78), Twigg, Turner (Baker '69).
Subs not used: Duggan, Stevens

Attendance: 1,348
Extratime man of the match: Dan Murray