Shaun Maher's 75th-minute header was sufficient to move Bohemians to within two points of leaders Shelbourne as they eventually wore down a resilient UCD side at Dalymount Park yesterday.

UCD manager Martin Moran had warned his players before the game that the team who scored first would run out winners. The students had obviously taken note of that brief as they looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the early stages.

UCD, who missed the suspended Clive Delaney and the injured Tony McDonnell and Eamon McLoughlin in defence, were lucky to survive a scare in the 35th minute when Stephen Caffrey's long ball was misjudged by Barry Ryan. But the goalkeeper retrieved the situation when diving back to grab the ball at the second attempt.

The introduction of veteran striker Derek Swan shortly after half-time added much needed life to Bohemians. But it was the students who went closest to scoring on the hour.

Brian Mooney, playing against his former club, was blatantly body-checked by Maher. But referee Dick O'Hanlon allowed play to continue when a penalty seemed certain to be awarded.

But matters were evened up three minutes later when Bohemians were also denied an equally blatant penalty after Swan had been chopped down by Aidan Lynch. Again O'Hanlon waved play on.

At vital stages it was the home side who exerted all the pressure. Andy Noonan was relieved to see his attempted clearance rebound off his own crossbar and then Glen Crowe had a shot deflected for a corner before Alan Mahon was back to block a Gareth O'Connor effort.

The inevitable breakthrough came from a Mark Dempsey corner on the right with just 15 minutes remaining. Central defender Maher, linking up with his forwards, headed home from six yards with the ball already having crossed the line before Mahon appeared to handle.

Bohemians: ML Dempsey; Caffrey, Maher, Mullen, Brunton; G O'Connor, O'Hanlon, Mark Dempsey, John, Kelly, Crowe. Substitutes: Hunt for Brunton (20 mins), Swan for Kelly (51), T O'Connor for G O'Connor (86).

UCD: Ryan; Dunne, Lynch, Noonan, Mahon; Martin, Kavanagh, Martyn, Mooney; Bennis, O'Byrne. Substitutes: Fitzpatrick and Hanrahan for Martin and Bennis both (79 mins).

Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).