Saints fall from grace with loss to Students

St Patrick's Athletic suffered their first away defeat of the Airtricity League Premier Division season -- which also cost them top spot in the table -- to an in-form UCD at the Belfield Bowl.

David McMillan's 33rd-minute header was the deciding factor as Martin Russell's side chalked up their eighth clean sheet in 11 league games.

Gareth Coughlan had a close-range effort scrambled off the line from a Conor Sinnott corner in the seventh minute after David McAllister helped the ball towards goal.

UCD were denied an opener in the 20th minute when Wilson's run ended with him teeing up Chris Mulhall, who brought the best out of Saints keeper Gary Rogers.

The lively Coughlan volleyed over 60 seconds later then had an effort cleared off the line by Evan McMillan after capitalising on a fumble by UCD keeper Billy Brennan.

UCD took the lead in the 33rd minute when David McMillan headed home emphatically from a deep right wing cross by Paul Corry. Rogers had to take evasive action to prevent Derek Pender from scoring a remarkable own-goal three minutes later -- the keeper pushing Pender's wild volley around an upright. McAllister had a chance to level six minutes into the second half when he connected with a left-wing cross by Coughlan but his header went over.

Rogers made another decent stop to keep out a snap-shot by Ciaran Kilduff in the 56th minute after the Saints failed to clear a Corry corner.

Shane Guthrie headed over from a St Pat's corner in the 69th minute after Ryan Guy had found Pender. The Saints' last chance came in the 91st minute when Paul Byrne flicked on a Guy header into the box and Brian Cash could only head over.