Clinical Serge Atakayi earns St Patrick's Athletic win over UCD

Serge Atakayi scored another opportunistic winner as St Patrick's Athletic had to work hard for a big three points at the UCD Bowl.

The victory saw Tim Clancy’s side edge to within four points of third-placed Derry City in their quest for European football again next year.

Finn Harps beating Sligo Rovers sees UCD drop back to the bottom of the table, two points behind the Donegal side.

Making his first start in four months following injury, Saints' striker Ronan Coughlan had an early chance to mark his return in style on seven minute from a set-piece routine.

Anto Breslin’s corner was flicked by Chris Forrester for Coughlan whose shot took a deflection to balloon over the top.

But Saints fans didn’t have much longer to wait for the lead as they scored from Forrester's delivery from a second corner.

Skipper Joe Redmond’s looped header back across goal came back off a post with Dutchman Thijs Timmermans, whose name the St Pat’s fans had chanted minutes before, nodding home his first goal for the club.

The guile of Tommy Lonergan, a former St Pat’s academy player, carved a half chance out of nothing on 27 minutes as UCD played their way into the game.

Cleverly hooking the ball over Tom Grivosti, the 18-year-old College striker’s volley dipped wide of Danny Rogers’ right-hand post.

That signalled a spell of pressure from the home side with Mark Dignam shooting off target after St Pat’s failed to clear.

Rogers was then called to make a fine reaction save when UCD captain Sam Todd’s header from an Evan Caffrey corner took a deflection.

That reawakened St Pat’s and they were inches from extending their lead on 38 minutes.

UCD’s left-back Evan Osam initially made a fine block on a shot from Coughlan.

The ball fell to Harry Brockbank who