Eircom League: Shelbourne 3 - Waterford United 1Shelbourne moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier Division with two first-half goals for a well deserved win at Tolka Park last night.

Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon had been critical of the FAI decision to schedule this game given they were due to play Derry three days later. A valid point perhaps and one that registered as that game has been moved to Saturday.

Shelbourne twice had chances to score inside five minutes. Jason Byrne was wide from a free on five minutes and Jamie Harris failed to find the target having connected with a ball played in by Owen Heary. But Heary found the net on 14 minutes when he latched on to a ball from Stuart Byrne.

Shelbourne had two more good chances before half-time. Waterford midfielder Mark Clifford was forced to clear his lines after Harris had come in at the near post. From the corner, Shelbourne's Kevin Doherty headed over.

But goal number two finally came on 38 minutes. It officially went to Wesley Houlihan but credit went to Heary as his run inside the box distracted the goalkeeper as Hoolahan's cross from inside the touchline went straight in.

Shelbourne began the second half positively with Connor denying Jason Byrne. Waterford then enjoyed their best spell of the game with Vinny Sullivan denied at the far post with 59 minutes gone. But it was over as a contest on the hour, however, when, after a goal-mouth scramble, David Mulcahy turned the ball into his own net.

A minute later Waterford pulled one back through an Alan Reilly penalty after Stuart Byrne had upended Neil Fenn inside the penalty area.

SHELBOURNE: Willliams: Heary, Doherty, Rogers, Crawley; Hoolihan, Byrne, Crawford , Cahill (85) ; Byrne, Harris.

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor; Mc Loughlin, Breen, Mulcahy, Waters(Banres 87); Sullivan, Clifford (Fitzgerald 44), O Brien, Reilly; Fenn, Murphy.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).