Shelbourne 3, Longford Town 0: Leaders Shelbourne increased their lead at the top of the Eircom League Premier Division following an easy 3-0 victory over eight-man Longford Town at Tolka Park last night.

Two goals from midfielder Jim Crawford and a late strike from Pat Fenlon sealed the issue for Shelbourne against a Longford side whose night began badly with a red card for Eric Lavine.

Vinnie Perth was also dismissed in the 71st minute for a second booking, while the third red card of an extraordinary game came for Stuart Byrne five minutes from time, also for a second yellow card.

Longford's top scorer Lavine was dismissed by referee DickO'Hanlon after seven minutes when, having just been booked for verbal abuse towards the assistant referee, he was then shown a straight red card for offensive gestures towards the same official.

Shelbourne almost took the lead straight after the incident when Richie Baker looked destined to score, but Perth got back to clear off the line.

Not surprisingly, the home side went ahead after 21 minutes when Longford keeper, Stephen O'Brien, could only parry a Peter Hutton drive, leaving Crawford to tap home into an empty net.

Crawford scored his second three minutes into the second half with a cracking 20-yard drive to the top corner, before Fenlon rounded off the night with Shelbourne's third 12 minutes from time

SHELBOURNE: Williams, Heary, Doherty, McCarthy, Hutton, Gannon, Crawford, Fenlon, Houlihan, Gritton, Baker. Subs: Geoghegan for Gritton (ht), Prenderville for Hutton (74 mins), Byrne for Gannon (74).

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Rose, W Byrne, Perth, S Byrne, Reynolds, Kirby, Spiller, Lavine, O'Connor, Zellor. Subs: Kelly for Kirby 42, Coleman for Zellor 58,

Referee: Dick O'Hanlon (Waterford)