Bohemians - 0 Shelbourne - 1 Shelbourne may have played well enough at times this year to establish their footballing credentials, but their previous results against their chief rivals for this eircom League title weren't the only things that have prompted the sceptics to predict that they would have the required steel to press home the advantage they held for so long at the top of the premier division table.

At Dalymount Park last night, however, they finally answered the critics with a powerful performance in which they first outmanoeuvred and then outscrapped a side that had only once been beaten at home this season. An early goal from Stuart Byrne proved enough to give the visitors three points and hand them an advantage of two with four games to play.

But Byrne's contribution was only one of many that will be reflected on with pride. Jason Byrne, Owen Heary and goalkeeper Steve Williams, who made two stunning saves, all played key parts too in a hard-earned but ultimately memorable victory.

"We came, we battled, we got an early goal and then we defended the way we have all season," said a delighted Williams moments after the final whistle as his team-mates celebrated their return to the front of the championship race. For the man so widely blamed for the 3-1 defeat of last week, the win must have tasted especially sweet.

Manager Pat Fenlon's tactics played a major part too and his decision to replace Stephen Geoghegan with another midfielder, Stuart Byrne, paid handsome dividends as Bohemianswere reduced to relying on high angled balls in the general direction of the box. And few of them were hit any way well.

The visitors contented themselves through much of this period with smothering their opponents and looking to throw bodies forward in support of Jason Byrne when the opportunity arose.

A fairly steady supply of possession came their way thanks to persistently poor passing by the locals, and they were helped too by some shaky moments in central defence from Colin Hawkins and Ken Oman.

Hawkins was the most obviously culpable of the back four for the Shelbourne goal, with the former under-21 international slipping as he attempted to cut out a poor cross by Jason Byrne and then pushing it straight to the unmarked Stuart Byrne who, from 15 yards out, had little trouble picking a spot in the bottom left corner.

The strike provided a lead which Fenlon's men defended doggedly for the next 73 minutes, although it was preserved minutes later thanks only to an almost miraculous clearance by Owen Heary after Bobby Ryan had beaten Williams, the first serious taste of frustration the Bohemians forwards were to get on the night.

In the second half it opened up a bit for them, but it was Shelbourne who initially made more of the shift in the shape of the game. As the Bohemians back four continued to struggle, first Ollie Cahill and then Jason Byrne tested Shay Kelly who saved on both occasions with his legs. With just over an hour played Byrne headed just over, but that chance marked the end of the visiting side's best spell and over the next 20 minutes or so they were subjected to an almost constant barrage which they survived, thanks only to a combination of solid defending, desperate finishing and raw good fortune.

The hosts had threatened early in the half through Glen Crowe, who seemed to be held back by Jamie Harris after he had slipped past the defender only to send his shot too close to the goalkeeper.

But Paul Keegan, Robbie Doyle and Fergal Harkin all went close to grabbing the equaliser that Bohemians were desperate to get as they finally started to exert some pressure on the opposing full-backs and get bodies into promising positions around the Shelbourne area.

Williams, though, kept the best of the chances, Doyle's close-range header, out with a fine save and some help from the post, and as the seconds slipped past Kenny's men were incapable of capitalising on their growing domination by producing the required rabbit from a hat around the area.

With four games remaining there is still time for this thrilling title race to tilt back in their favour, but if Shelbourne prevail now the fortitude they displayed during one of their sternest tests might be remembered as the night they finally started looking like champions.

BOHEMIANS: Kelly; Heary, Hawkins, Oman, Webb; Ryan, Caffrey Harkin, 67 mins), Hunt, Morrison (Rutherford, half-time); Crowe, Keegan (Doyle, 75 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Harris, McCarthy, Rogers; Hoolahan (D Baker, 83 mins), S Byrne, Morgan, Crawford, Cahill; J Byrne (Rowe, 85 mins).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork)