MATCH PREVIEW: UCD v Cobh Ramblers

UCD Bowl, May 19th 2017. SSE Airtricity League First Division

After an excellent win over Cabinteely at St Colman’s Park last weekend, Cobh Ramblers boss Stephen Henderson is challenging his side to continue their winning ways against UCD on Friday night.

“We had to look for a response after losing to Athlone Town. And collectively against Cabinteely we were brilliant. And it puts to bed the horror show against Athlone.

“We were fabulous I thought last Saturday night, let’s keep that going now.”

With Karl Caulfield out injured with a quad muscle problem and captain Christopher McCarthy suspended, Jason Abbott is in line to keep his place in the starting 11.

The midfielder set up Ramblers’ opening goal and had a big hand in the second in a man of the match performance against Cabinteely, and Henderson wants him to keep that form going.

“Jason was man of the match last week and it was thoroughly deserved. He has the quality to do that every week. We played him as a number 10, a position that seems to suit him. Our second goal last week came from him winning the ball, and it was that aggression that was missing from his game. He deserved a goal too, the goalkeeper made a fantastic save from him.

“He went out against Cabinteely and did exactly what we wanted of him. And he needs to be at that standard every week. Matthew Whelan had a great game up front on his own, but a large part of that was down to Jason, making runs and finding those passes.”

Ramblers go into the game two points off league leaders Waterford, and Henderson wants his side to show they have what it takes for a title challenge.

“We want to be at it until the end of the season. People can take a look at us and wonder if we can keep going. We played very well against a Cabinteely side that beat us 4-1 last time out. It was great to see a response from the Athlone game.

“We go now to UCD, they’re a fine side with a great manager in Collie O’Neill. It’s a big pitch up there, which will suit us if we pass the ball well. And if we have that aggression when we don’t have the ball like we did last week, and we have that quality when we do, we’ll give UCD a very good game on Friday night.”

INJURIES – Karl Caulfield (quad muscle), Cian Kingston (ankle) both out

SUSPENSIONS – Christopher McCarthy

LEAGUE FORM – (most recent first) W L W W L

LAST MEETING – Cobh Ramblers 1-0 UCD, April 1st (Ben O’Riordan 63′)