Longford Town 0  Waterford United 2: It was a blue night for Longford Town at Flancare Park last night as Waterford United cruised to their first victory in five games against an out-of-sorts home side.

Waterford were full value for a win that keeps them in touch with leaders Shelbourne and their margin of victory could have been even wider in this one-sided encounter.

The Munster club welcomed back Willie Bruton from injury and the former Cobh player had a hand in Waterford's second goal before eventually being replaced with a half an hour to go.

Waterford were simply too classy for Longford in the early stages and were two up by the 19th minute.

They took the lead in the 13th minute when Alan Reynolds' corner was rifled home by striker Daryl Murphy for his fifth goal of the season.

This advantage was doubled just six minutes later when Bruton supplied Ritchie Kennedy, who found Vinnie Sullivan unmarked on the edge of the Longford area and the striker finished off the move, his shot going in off a post.

Longford had a couple of chances themselves in an entertaining first half. John Martin was badly off target with an 18th- minute header while seven minutes later Shane Barrett could do no better than shoot tamely into the arms of Waterford goalkeeper Dan Connor.

Longford improved considerably after half-time but Connor's goal was never really threatened.

Waterford were reduced to 10 men in the final minute of normal time when Dave Mulcahy was red-carded after striking Longford defender Brian McGovern.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Murphy, Dillon, McGovern, Ferguson, Keogh (Perth, half-time), Kirby, Fitzgerald, Baker, Barrett (Francis, 76), Martin (Lavine, half-time).

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, Mulcahy, Frost, Reynolds, Breen, Purcell, Bruton (Carey, 59), Kennedy, Murphy, Sullivan, Watters.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).