Robbie Doyle came to the rescue of Bohemians last night, grabbing the equaliser to prevent the champions from suffering a third successive defeat.

Doyle, who scored his only other goal this season at Longford's Flancare Park which earned Bohemians a late point, didn't quite leave it as late last night at Dalymount Park but the strike was equally important.

The former UCD man could even have earned Bohemians a winner in the 78th minute but he was denied by Stephen O'Brien and he was denied by an even better save in the 90th minute. In injury-time he squandered another chance by heading over.

Bohemians were stunned after two minutes when Eric Lavine headed home but Doyle levelled after 23 minutes. Apart from Doyle's three late efforts, the best chance of a winner fell to Longford two minutes after the restart when Shane Barrett broke clear but he failed to capitalise.

Longford, looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games, grabbed the opening goal as Lavine's glancing header from Philip Keogh's corner swept past Seamus Kelly. However, the visitors failed to build on that advantage although on the half hour Keogh seemed certain to convert Barrett's cross but he fired against the crossbar.

Six minutes earlier Bohemians's efforts had been rewarded when Doyle found Bobby Ryan with a cross and Ryan in turn found Mark Rutherford whose perfect lay-off was met by Doyle and he gave O'Brien no chance.

BOHEMIANS: Kelly, Lynch, Webb, Hunt, Oman, Hawkins, Ryan, Caffrey, Doyle, Pereplyotkin, Rutherford. Subs: Crowe for Ryan (80 mins); Keegan for Pereplyotkin (86 mins); Harkin for Caffrey (90 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Alan Murphy, Dillon, McGovern, Ferguson, Francis, Kirby, Sheridan, Lavine, Barrett, Keogh. Subs: Byrne for Kirby (25 mins); Mulvihill for Francis (70 mins); Adrian Murphy for Lavine (80 mins).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).