With Pat Fenlon's team in an unfamiliar position among the chasing pack at the moment, Bohemians at least returned to the familiarity of victory.
Christy Fagan's 26th-minute penalty proved enough to defeat UCD.
But some of Bohs' same old problems this season remained. Fagan’s strike was only the team's 14th in 15 games, with their failure to convert chances make this a little more anxious than it should have been.
Perhaps sensing a bit of uncertainty about Bohs at the moment, the students put it up to them off. And it wasn't without some end product.
Paul O'Connor flashed just wide on 20 minutes with Darren Mennan almost catching Chris O’Connor out with a chip shortly before half-time.
Overall, however, it was still Bohs that dominated. Producing some quick football and with Killian Brennan as precise with his passes as ever, their first real opportunity came when Fagan flashed a shot at Ger Barron. The only problem for UCD was that another of their players got their palms on Fagan’s next effort.
With Michael Leahy handling the striker's attempted through-ball at the edge of the box, it was left to the number-eight to fire home. Low and hard, Barron had no chance of his getting his fingers to that one.
The keeper did come to the rescue in the second half, however, as a typically thunderous Brennan free-kick was touched wide. Fagan later went close with a shot.
At the other end, however, the Bohs defence stayed firm. The cleansheet means they’ve only conceded nine in 15. Whatever of their record in front of the opposition goal, that’s one reason why they’ll always remain in the mix.
Bohemians: O'Connor; Heary, O'Brien, Cronin (Burke 88), Burns; Price, Bayly, Buckley (Dixon 82), Brennan, Flood, Fagan (Traynor 78)
UCD: Barron; Harding, Nangle, O’Connor, Leahy; Corry (Ledwith 45), O'Connor, Marshall, Meenan; Belhout (Doyle 68), Benson (Rusk 57)
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin)
