National League/Shelbourne 1 Dublin City 0: Shelbourne scored an important win over Dublin City last night to maintain the pressure on Drogheda United at the top of the Premier Division.

Prior to last weekend's win over Waterford, Shelbourne's form had been far from impressive and they came into this game with just three victories from 11 games in 2006 - and all but one of those in the cup.

Pat Fenlon's men had been knocked out of the Setanta Sports Cup by Cork City on Monday, and they had to win this match if they were to boost their ailing championship hopes.

After a fairly tedious start to the match a two-minute spell just before the half-hour produced the biggest talking point of the first half, and the match.

The first chance of the game fell to Jason Byrne in the third minute but Drogheda goalkeeper Gary Rogers saved, and soon after that Derek Pender drove a Keith Doyle narrowly over the upright.

Then, on seven minutes, Derek Pender threaded a ball through to Michael O'Donnell, he laid the ball off for David Freeman, who turned to crack a low drive.

However, Shelbourne goalkeeper Dean Delaney prevented Dublin City from taking a shock lead.

Soon after that attack Byrne took the ball and touched it over the head of Alan Keely, before cracking a glorious volley on to the woodwork.

The ball bounced back down into the path of the unmarked Liam Kearney, but Dave Rogers came to his side's rescue, clawing the ball out for a corner.

Although Shelbourne failed to profit from the ensuing set-piece they finally found the net on 29 minutes when Ollie Cahill cut in from the right and found O'Neill who executed a clinical far post header.

Dublin had a chance to restore parity 11 minutes later when Doyle played in Pender but his ambitious effort flew well over the upright.

In a fractious second half chances were at a premium.Byrne directed a David Crawley cross over on 53 minutes.

With eight minutes left Glenn Crowe jinked in behind the Drogheda defence and squandered a terrific chance to seal Dublin City's fate with Rogers well beaten.

Shelbourne: Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Dillon, Crawley; Kearney, Cahill, Crawford (Reynolds 45 mins), S Byrne; O'Neill, J Byrne (Crowe 75 mins).

Dublin City: Rogers; Brennan, Keely, Doyle, Malcolm; McDonnell, Pender, McGill (Shiels 45 mins), O'Donnell; Davey (Collins 45 mins), Freeman

Referee: D Haney (Dublin)

(Replaced by D Tomney, 37mins)