If the constant talk of style has yet to be truly justified by the new-look Saint Patrick's Athletic there is certainly little doubting the substance of a team that maintained its lead at the top of the table last night with another well-earned win at Richmond Park.

Finn Harps had not prospered on their previous two visits to the capital this season but they have been playing well over the past month during which they were unbeaten for four matches. It was easy to see why from this performance for they looked a much better side than the one which had lost to Bohemians in week two of the campaign, especially at the back where disorganisation more than anything had contributed to the four goals they conceded in Dalymount.

Now as then, their commitment to getting men forward occasionally leaves them looking a little stretched at the back, but early on in this one it seemed likely that their initiative might well be rewarded as Jonathan Speak, Donal O'Brien and John Gerard McGettigan all had chances to put the visitors in front.

Not that theirs were the only chances, for Trevor Molloy's shot at the other end contributed to the impression that a scrappy game - and given the strength of the wind we could expect little else - might at least be blessed with a few goals. As it was to turn out, however, one was to be enough.

Martin Reilly provided it after an hour gone when James Mulligan's adventurism on the right hand side, not for the first time on the night, offered the locals the sort of possession from which they could carve out a swift move forwards of their own.

Mulligan, back in the team but on the right side of midfield due to the fine form of Garret Callaghan during the weeks he was injured, looked one of the more likely sources of trouble for Pat Dolan's side. All too often, though, he failed to capitalise on the movement of Callaghan or Jonathan Speak around him, hanging on to the ball just long enough to allow a defender to measure his tackle.

With an hour gone he was once again looking for a pathway into the area when he was robbed 25 yards out. The ball, having then been pushed to Paul Osam on half-way was then crossed quickly for Ian Gilzean, who made the most of Declan Boyle's slip to turn and feed Reilly on the edge of the area. As Derry and Drogheda had discovered to their cost in Saint Patrick's previous two games, allowing Reilly to steal a yard around there generally proves costly and, sure enough, a sidefooted shot low to Jody Byrne's right made it three in as many matches for last season's top scorer.

It was a fine goal in the conditions which, from early on, had been a factor in the contest. A swirling breeze added to the unpredictability of both side's approach play, but particularly to the Harps attack which, early on, had been based largely on high balls from wide positions. In fairness, though, it also made it just about impossible for one of the home side's shots, hit from outside the area, to reach, never mind hit, the target.

While Trevor Wood did well more than once to react quickly to the changed flight of a cross at the other end, Molloy was finding the going just that little harder. On the half hour it seemed that the youngster, who had busily scurried about in pursuit of everything up to then, had been handed the opener by striking partners Gilzean and Reilly.

The Englishman started the move with a nicely chipped ball down the right and, after an awkward bounce had caught Jonathon Minnock, Reilly headed on for Molloy who was free in the box. He might have done better had he advanced on goal rather than hurrying a shot which, as it turned out, hopped harmlessly out the wrong side of the corner flag.

Had that gone in then Reilly's would have killed the game off completely, but as it was Harps chased hard through the closing stages when, with Mulligan moved back up front, there always seemed a chance that they just might nick something from the game.

By then, however, the home side looked to be assuming control of the contest with Packie Lynch and Colin Hawkins looking more and more solid as the game went on.

Heavy traffic in Waterford led to Longford Town starting last night's First Division match against the local side with only nine men. Despite the start being delayed for 10 minutes to allow as many Longford players as possible to get through the snarl-up, the match was in play 15 minutes before Longford were able to bring on two of their late arrivals to bring them up to full strength.