THE excellence of former Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Barry Murphy helped champions Bohemians to the top of the table for the first time this season as they snatched a vital win at Richmond Park. Murphy made crucial late saves to deprive Ryan Guy and then substitute Sean Stewart, right at the death, as Bohemians held on for a massive three points.

It stretched Bohemians' unbeaten run to 10 games and edged them a point clear at the top with two games remaining.

With momentum in their sails, Bohemians started the brighter, twice testing an uncertain Chris Bennion before taking a deserved led on 26 minutes.

A rash, clumsy challenge by rookie central defender Noel Haverty on Killian Brennan saw referee Richie Winter point to the spot. While Pat's were irate at the decision, replays suggested it was correct. Bennion did his confidence no harm by diving the right way to palm away Brennan's poor spot kick. But Raffaele Cretaro was more alert than the home defenders to react quickest to the rebound and rifle it to the roof of the net.

St Patrick's boss Pete Mahon rallied his troops at the break and they had a spring in their step from the resumption, almost levelling on 53 minutes.

Danny North outfoxed Ken Oman on the right to pick out the unmarked Vinny Faherty who's volley came back off the bar. But Bohemians remained a big threat on the counter and Bennion had to excel to parry away a fierce close range shot from Brennan on 76 minutes.

Murphy then earned Bohemians their big win with those vital late saves. And potentially the title.

St Patrick's Athletic Bennion; Pender, Kenna, Haverty, Bermingham; Guy, McAllister, Mulcahy (O'Brien, 82 mins), Doyle (Stewart, 71 mins); Faherty (O'Connor, 61 mins), North.

Bohemians B Murphy; Rossiter, Shelley, Oman, Powell; Brennan, Cronin, Keegan, McGlynn (Quigley, 80 mins); Cretaro (Greene, 89 mins), Byrne (Madden, 61 mins)

Referee R Winter (Dublin)