UCD had not scored for four games prior to this fixture; but a goal in each half from Tony McDonnell and Michael O'Byrne ended their famine and consolidated their mid-table position at the Regional Sports Centre last night.

The students went in front after 28 minutes when O'Byrne displayed some nice skill to feed Glen Fitzpatrick and his cross was headed into the net past a helpless Michael Devine by McDonnell.

United opened brightly and Alan Kirby broke through after only 10 minutes; but a last ditch tackle took the ball off his toe and his effort was deflected out for a corner.

Just on the quarter hour, the visitors were unlucky not to score again, but Derek McGrath took McDonald's effort off the line at the post.

Eamonn McLaughlin blazed over the bar for UCD from only six yards on 22 minutes and Devine prevented United going further behind with two super saves from Ciaran Kavanagh and Ciaran Martyn in the 35th and 36th minutes.

UCD continued to pile on the pressure after the re-start and were rewarded with a second goal inside five minutes when O'Byrne headed powerfully home from an Alan Mahon cross. McLaughlin should really have made it 3-0 on 55 minutes when he shot weakly at Devine after being put clean through by O'Byrne.

United replied with a fierce onslaught and a minute later they clawed their way back into the game when substitute Karl Gannon scored their first goal in seven games from a Kirby cross.

With Bray Wanderers' defeat at the Carlisle Grounds, Waterford lost a chance to lift themselves into third last position in the league table.

Waterford United: Devine, Smith, Frost, D McGrath, Riordan, T McGrath, Kirby, Flood, Kabia, Iorsa, Harkin. Subs: Gannon for Flood (half time); Reid for Kabia (78 mins).

UCD: Ryan, McDonnell, Mahon, Lynch, Delaney, Martyn, Kavanagh, McLaughlin, O'Byrne, Ennis, Fitzpatrick. Sub: Dunne for Fitzpatrick (82 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)