St Patrick's Athletic... 2 UCD... 0: A 12th goal of the season, his fourth in successive matches, from Tony Bird set St Patrick's on their way to a first league win in five matches as they moved back into third place in the table.

The scarcely fit Paul Osam, making only his second start in two months after a knee problem, then sealed victory from another of St Patrick's beloved set pieces early in the second half.

Conscious of having drawn nine of their 16 league games to date, and anxious to get their below-par display at Longford Town last week out of their system, St Patrick's took the game to an in-form UCD.

With Osam restored to their midfield, and Paul Donnelly dropped back to right back for the injured Barry Prenderville, there was a better shape to Eamonn Collins's side as they stamped their authority on the game from the first whistle.

The UCD goal was under pressure within minutes as Osam curled a free kick narrowly wide before Charles Mbabazi was guilty of a dreadful miss when his downward header from David Freeman's cross bounced up and over Patrick Jennings's crossbar.

A deserved lead duly came on 19 minutes when Bird demonstrated to his Ugandan team-mate how it should be done.

Mbabazi, mind, played a key role as he collected Karim El Khebyr's pass to turn Niall Donnelly one way then the other before floating the perfect cross to the back post for Bird to rise and head home and join Cork City's John O'Flynn as the league's top scorer with 11 goals.

College might have been further behind at the interval but for some brave defending from Robert McAuley, who put his body in the way of Osam's shot, while Keith Fahy volleyed wide.

But their manager, Paul Doolin, won't be happy that poor defending cost UCD the concession of a second goal within three minutes of the restart.

As is so often the case with many of St Patrick's goals, it was simplicity itself as Osam wasn't picked up from Fahy's corner and his header had enough substance to beat Jennings despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.

Some wasteful finishing prevented UCD getting back into the match as Mick O'Donnell and Robbie Griffin in turn were woefully off target from scoreable openings.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; Donnelly, Maguire, Foley, El Khebyr, Fahy, Osam (Marney, 64 mins), Byrne, Mbabazi, Freeman (Rose, 67 mins), Bird.

UCD: Jennings; Donnelly, McNally, McAuley, Davey, Cawley, Martin, O'Donnell, Ryan, Rooney (McWalter, 51 mins, Leach 74 mins), Griffin.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)