Bohemians' season continued its downward spiral after a dispirited defeat to UCD at Belfield yesterday pushed them to the bottom of the Premier Division table.

The club slumped to their third successive defeat and their eighth of the season but it might have been different. They should have taken the lead after just 14 seconds when Tommy Byrne helped the ball into the UCD area straight from the kick-off.

Bohemians captain Tony O'Connor was perhaps surprised to find the ball at his feet only yards from goal. He scuffed his shot and UCD goalkeeper Barry Ryan gathered easily. The missed chance foretold Bohemians' day.

With Donal Broughan and Robbie Brunton back from suspension, but with Derek Swan out injured, Bohemians dominated up to half-time, when they had to swallow their disappointment after being stung by a superbly taken counter-attacking goal.

UCD, scarcely in the game at all, broke away on 43 minutes to score with their only effort on target in the first half.

It was route one stuff as Ryan's kick-out was delightfully flicked on by Glen Fitzpatrick, making his starting debut, for Eoin Bennis to get a run at goal. Bennis held off the challenge of Shaun Maher before drilling the ball sublimely beyond Michael Dempsey into the far corner of the net.

It was rough on Bohemians, but they had only themselves to blame for falling behind after some wayward finishing.

Fergal Harkin, O'Connor, and Graham Lawlor peppered the UCD goal and Ryan made an excellent diving save to keep out a stinging 20-yard drive from Tommy Byrne on 38 minutes.

A minute later, Lawlor was just wide with a header from Brunton's deep cross and Bohemians then appeared the only team in the match.

Even after falling behind against the flow of play, a minute later Brian Mooney was inches away from equalising when his shot flew wide of Ryan's righthand post.

Bolstered by the goal, UCD continually frustrated Bohemians, whose display in the second half deteriorated against a vigorous home defence.

UCD were clearly the more composed side now, defending doggedly and breaking with purpose, with the reward a second goal on 79 minutes.

Substitute Mick O'Donnell and Ciaran Martyn were involved to get the ball wide right to Bennis. His shot was cleared off the line by Eoin Mullen but only to Martyn, whose instinctive sidefooter shot the ball into the net for his first league goal of the season.

"If Tocky (Tony O'Connor) had scored early on it would have been a different story," said Bohemians team manager Roddy Collins. "If you don't defend properly you're going to concede goals.

"Some of the players seem a little bit edgy but, with two thirds of the season left, I don't see any reason to be getting edgy yet."

UCD: Ryan; Delaney, Mahon, Lynch; McLoughlin, Martyn, Kavanagh, O'Byrne, Brett; Bennis, Fitzpatrick. Sub: O'Donnell for Fitzpatrick (65 mins).

BOHEMIANS: Dempsey; Broughan, Maher, Mullen, Brunton; Harkin, Byrne, O'Connor, Mooney; Lawlor, Hanrahan. Sub: McGrath for Harkin (65 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).