FAI National League, Premier Division/UCD 0; St Patrick's Ath 0: Their performance was significantly improved but UCD squandered a great chance to gain all three points against St Patrick's Athletic at Belfield Park last night.

It must be new manager Pete Mahon's influence that has brought the extra urgency to UCD's play. At just the right time of the season they have begun to really scrap for their Premiership status.

Their passing and movement had added spice, as was their willingness to get on the ball, best exemplified by Alan Cawley.

Yet the problems in the final third of the field remain. The lack of a prolific striker could still consign them to the lower divisions. Mark Rooney's pace is undoubtedly a prized asset but he missed two golden opportunities to secure a fifth victory of the season.

With 20 minutes gone Colm Foley failed to deal with a straight-forward long ball and Rooney was away. Clive Delaney wasn't able to deal with the forward's pace yet goalkeeper Chris Adamson blocked the goal-bound shot with his feet.

As the opening half drew to a close it was St Patrick's who began to assert themselves. Charles Livingstone was probing down the left flank while on the right the Keith Fahey supply line looked likely to produce an opener. One such cross just evaded the oncoming Livingstone at the far post.

Five minutes into the second half the visitors really should have taken the lead. Livingstone played a well-weighted pass into the path of Fahey whose shot was parried by Pat Jennings, before he cleared on the second attempt.

UCD have been experiencing the type of luck this season that befits their position at the foot of the table. Just before the hour mark it continued when referee Alan Kelly waved away appeals for a penalty for handball.

They had a fresh appeal when Chris Adamson appeared to handle the ball outside the box after Cawley had sent full-back Patrick Sullivan through with a delightful pass. Another gilt-edged chance was missed before the end when Rooney again failed to find the target, from just seven yards, after Adamson failed to hold onto an Alan McNally shot.

^{UCD: Jennings; Sullivan, McAuley, McNally, Ryan (Whelan 83 mins); Martin, McDonnell, Cawley, O'Donnell; Griffin (Davey 66mins), Rooney (McWalter 90 mins).}

^{St Patrick's Athletic: Adamson; Maguire, Delaney, Foley, El Kheybir, Fahey, Byrne (Dunne 62 mins), Osam, Livingstone; Bird, McPhee (Freeman 62 mins).}

^{Referee: A Kelly (Cork).}