Bohemians leapfrogged Galway United into fourth place thanks to a Mia Dodd double and a Sarah Rowe strike as the Gypsies continue to cling onto the title-chasing top three.
It was a breathtaking encounter at Dalymount Park and the visitors thought they had earned a dramatic come-from-behind point on the road through a Kate Slevin header and a late Madison Gibson penalty, but they were ultimately undone with the last kick of the game.
The home side, fresh from a massive 3-0 win on the road in Wexford, started full of confidence and took the lead within the first minute.
Last week's match-winning deadly duo of Dodd and Rowe combined yet again when winger Rowe delivered a ball back to the edge of the box and Dodd finished expertly first time on the volley.
In an exhilarating opening first 10 minutes, the visitors could have counted themselves very unlucky not to have not only equalised but even been in front if it weren't for two outstanding Rachael Kelly saves.
Kelly firstly denied Dana Scheriff, who had the goal at her mercy, having been set up by Madison Gibson, but the second was even better – a magnificent stop.
Chloe Singleton rose highest in a packed penalty area and powered her header downwards, but somehow Kelly’s cat-like reflexes kicked in and she got down to turn the ball behind.
As the half wore on, the visitors desperately tried to get themselves back on level terms but when they did find a chink in the armour, they were then met by one of the top goalkeepers in the league.
Chants of "there’s only one Rachael Kelly" rang around the famous old ground as the Bohs stopper was on hand again to break Athlone hearts as the half drew to a close.
The in-form ’keeper stood up long enough to deny Scheriff, who found herself clear through on goal inside the area but, again, Kelly’s reflexes came to the rescue.
On the stroke of half time, the hosts dealt a massive sucker-punch to the Town when Rowe doubled her side's lead with a magnificent first-time volley from the right-hand side of the box.
Straight from the kick off for the second half, Athlone looked determined to salvage something from the game forcing corner after corner. Gillian Keenan was unlucky not to bundle the ball over the line following an almighty goalmouth scramble.
Just after the hour mark, and with practically her first touch since her introduction, Slevin halved the deficit when she flicked home a header at the back post.
With a quarter of an hour remaining there was huge drama when Muireann Devaney tangled with Fiona Donnolly in the area following a ball over the top. Referee Mark Houlihan looked to point to the spot but much to the home side's relief, saw a flag up for an initial offside.
Bohs went straight down the other end on the break and missed a glorious chance to put the game to bed, but Rowe was smothered at the last second by Nyla Peterkin.
Athlone pushed for the leveller and in the 90th minute the pressure finally told when Devaney picked up a loose ball and burst into the area, going down under the challenge of Kira Bates Crosbie. Madison Gibson kept her cool from 12 yards to level things up with a classy finish.
But the drama wasn’t done there, and with the last kick of the game Dodd snatched all three points for the home side with yet another incredible finish from distance.
Erica Burke was played in on goal but met by Peterkin, who cleared straight to Dodd who guided the ball home from 30-plus yards.
Bohemians: Rachael Kelly, Lynn Craven (Abbie O'Hara, 90’), Lisa Murphy, Ciara Maher, Katie Lovely, Sarah Rowe, Fiona Donelly, Rachel Doyle (Niamh Prior, 66’), Kira Bates Crosbie, Mia Dodd, Erica Burke.
Athlone Town: Nyla Peterkin, Kayleigh Shine, Muireann Devaney, Gillian Keenan (Kate Slevin, 61’), Dana Scheriff (Shauna Brennan, 61’), Chloe Singleton, Laurie Ryan, Scarlett Herron, Roisin Molloy (Kellie Brennan, 61’), Madison Gibson, Julia Weithofer.
Referee: Mark Houlihan.
Elsewhere, Peamount United remain top of the table after a 2-0 win over Galway United.
Sadhbh Doyle was the star for the hosts, striking either side of the break to keep United one point clear.
Shamrock Rovers are right behind them after they edged a seven-goal thriller at home to DLR Waves.
Eve O'Brien put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, but Rovers hit four before the break with Savannah McCarthy, Jessica Gargan, Abbie Larkin and Alannah McEvoy all on target.
Any thoughts of a comfortable second half were undone by quickfire strikes from Amber Cosgrove and Freya Roche in the 61st and 67th minute left the pressure on, but Rovers held on.
Shelbourne remain in third and boosted their scoring difference in the process as they left Sligo with a 6-0 win.
The goals were split evenly between the halves, Noelle Murray, Christie Gray and Jemma Quinn on target in the first half while Megan Smyth-Lynch and Quinn again scored either side of a Bonnie McKiernan own goal.
Treaty United and Wexford Youths played out a 2-2 draw.
Hailey Walsh put the home side ahead in the 14th minute and that's how it stayed until the 78th minute when Nicola Sinnott equalised for Wexford.
Treaty thought they had won it through Cara Griffin’s late strike, but Emily Corbet earned a point for the away side.
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