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There is a strange feeling to this UCD Leinster Senior League Division Major 1 B team, its well passed Christmas and they are still pushing for promotion. Tradition would dictate that this group of players should have lost interest long ago but Conor McGroarty's young charges have taken tradition and kicked it to touch. With 2 games left in the season UCD needed to beat TEK to stay in contention for promotion and the 1-0 win means that they can still look forward to the next game knowing that a win will push them that bit closer to climbing one rung higher on the Saturday ladder. UCD started the first half with some good passing football, coupled with determined defending. The movement up front provided by Brian O'Brochlain ensured the TEK defence could not relax. Paul Curtin set up an impromptu audition for Soccer Am's Skill school as he bamboozled his opposite number who could not handle his silky skills. O'Neill and Rogers stood firm at the back as TEK gave an expert class in how to kick a ball a long way down a grass pitch. The first half was littered with half chances as McNelis, Whelan and Curtin pulled the trigger only to see their attempts at goal trickle into the keeper's arms or fly wide of the target. TEK were not having much more luck at the other end trying to breach McGroarty and his back four. The second half was a tale of balls played through an ever more porous defence on either side while UCD's efforts were thwarted by the whistle happy referee who decided he was going to give an exhibition in the offside rule, TEK's efforts were stopped by the agile Conor McGroarty who was quick off his line to dive at the feet of the oncoming striker before 'taking one for the team' as one of his team mates remarked afterwards. The goal arrived late in the second half when a long ball from McGroarty, recovered from his mild concussion, was flicked on by the dominant Gary O'Toole to Michael Whelan who knocked it down to McNelis, arriving just in time to send a half volley into the bottom corner of the TEK net. What ensued was a siege of the UCD goal but nowadays with the bit between their teeth UCD are not prepared to give up easily and hold out they did for a victory that pushes them closer to the finish line with the winner's podium in sight. UCD: McGroarty, Gahan, Ward, O'Neill, Rogers, McFlynn, O'Toole, Whelan, Curtin, B O'Brochlain, McNelis Subs: Kennedy to B O'Brochlain, Connolly for Curtin, Lehane for McNelis