League Report: Shelbourne 3 - 0 Waterford United

Shelbourne cruised to a 3-0 victory over basement side Waterford United at Tolka Park on Friday evening, a brace from James English, followed by a late strike from Carl Walshe ensured Shels recorded a first victory in three games.

In a game which Shelbourne knew they couldn’t afford to drop points in the race for the top three, the home side started very brightly and in the opening minutes, Sean Heaney had a huge opportunity when a Gareth Coughlan corner fell to the centre-back, but his shot cannoned off Robert Birdsall’s post.

After Heaney’s miss, Shels had another gilt edged opportunity, but this time it was forward James English who fired wide from close range after a cross from Dylan McGlade found the striker free at the back post. His close range headed effort failed to find the target.

Anthony McAlavey should have done better with the visiting side’s first effort on target but his shot from the edge of the box was easily gathered by Greg Murray in the Shelbourne goal.

As the game approached the half hour mark Shelbourne took a deserved lead when English met an Adam O’Connor cross from inside the penalty spot before his first time effort with his right footed shot beat Birdsall and sailed into the bottom corner.

As half-time approached, Waterford’s McAlavey had his side's best chance when he rounded Murray in the Shels goal from a Cory Galvin ball, but the forward lost his bearings and failed to get an effort on target.

With less than a minute on the clock in the second half, Shels doubled their lead when Coughlan found himself in possession after a poor clearance from Birdsall - his low pass found English who turned before firing low past the keeper to double his tally for the night.

Moments later, Shels had three great opportunities to add to their tally, first Sean Heaney headed into Birdsall’s hands from a free header - from the resulting clearance, Coughlan nipped in to steal possession for the defender, but he could not find the target, the last of the three quick chances saw Daire Doyle head a Coughlan corner just wide of the far post.

On the hour mark, James English had a brilliant opportunity to complete his hat-trick but the forward dragged his shot wide of goal after he beat the offside trap to race onto a Dylan McGlade ball.

With Shelbourne in control of affairs, Waterford had a huge chance to pull a goal back after a cross from the right, but none of Roddy Collins side gambled on the ball between the six yard line and the penalty spot allowing the home side to easily clear possession.

As the home side began to take their foot off the gas, they were lucky not to be punished on two occasions. First Aaron O’Connor forced a good stop from Murray after he raced onto a Cory Galvin from before moments later Mark Walsh fired over from the edge of the box when through on goal.

With less than ten minutes remaining, Waterford were reduced to ten men when Colum Nugent was shown his marching orders for a two footed tackle on Heaney and Shels made the man advantage pay moments later when Carl Walshe fired past Birdsall.

Shelbourne FC: Greg Murray, Adam O’Connor, Ryan Robinson, Sean Heaney (Jake Donnelly 86), Evan Osam, Gareth Coughlan (Conor Earley 71), Daire Doyle (Paul Andrews 86), Colm Crowe, Dylan McGlade, Carl Walshe, James English

Subs Not Used: Jack Brady, Simon Dixon, Mark Sandford, Alan O’Sullivan

Booked: Robinson (41)

Waterford United: Robert Birdsall, Shaun Corcoran, Colum Nugent, Shane Mackey, Dean Reidy (Robbie Buckley 33), Evan Galvin (Brian Nolan 86), Ethan Boyle, Aaron O’Connor, Cory Galvin, Adam Prendergast (Mark Walsh 57), Anthony McAlavey

Subs Not Used: Matt Connor

Booked: Nugent (45)

Red Card: Nugent (83)

Match Referee: Robert Hennessey

Attendance: 513

Extratime Man of the Match: James English (Shelbourne)