SAINTS coach Kristian Woolf praised the character his side showed in rallying from a 12-0 deficit to beat Wakefield Trinity in Golden Point.
Second half tries from wings Regan Grace and Jon Bennison, goaled from the touchline by Jonny Lomax tied it at 12-12.
Having missed in three attempts to win it, Jack Welsby plundered the winner to send Saints six points clear at the summit.
"Wakefield deserve credit," said Woolf after the visitors took a six-point lead over second-placed Wigan.
"They showed up with a great energy and won that first half.
"It was a good lesson for us because we weren't where we needed to be in the first half.
"We didn't back up the energy from last week's game.
"But there was a good sign because we showed some real character and fight in the second half that it meant something to us."
As well as Welsby, Saints were also indebted to Lomax who marked his 300th career appearance with two crucial touchline conversions.
In contrast, Wakefield half-back Mason Lino twice hit the posts with first-half conversion attempts to tries by Jorge Taufua and Jack Croft.
"Jonny has put his hand up to say he needs to be our goal kicker at the moment," added Woolf.
"He does so many things so well "There was no better man to be taking those kicks because he handles pressure so well."
On Welsby, Woolf said: "He has played much better games for us than that. But he came up with the crucial play under pressure when it really mattered to help us win the game."
Wakefield head coach Willie Poching described his team's fifth successive defeat as "gut-wrenching" and added: "The dressing room is hurting.
"Saints are a quality team and we knew we had to play and defend like we did in order to get something out of the game.
"I thought we did enough but unfortunately it wasn't to be. But I said to the lads we can be proud of a lot of things we did and I thought we took some good strides forward.
"We have got to understand we have got this in us and deliver on it. Even though Saints scored a couple of tries in the second half, I thought our defensive effort was still there."
On Lino's misses, Poching added: "I am not going to put it on Mason. We had chances to win the game and it could have been different but it's all ifs, buts and maybes.
"However, I have never been a fan (of golden point). For the effort, a draw should be enough. But I understand people like car crash TV."
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