ENGLISH NODS IN WINNER

SHELBOURNE will take a lead into Monday’s second leg of their First Division play-off against Drogheda United after James English’s header proved the difference in a tight encounter at United Park.

The 26-year-old (above) rose superbly to power home Lorcan Fitzgerald’s corner kick in the first half.

Shels boss

Owen Heary now knows a draw at

Tolka Park will be enough for his side to set up a further play-off with

Finn Harps.

English’s goal arrived moments after Drogheda stopper Paul Skinner had denied David O’sullivan from touching in and while Shels failed to create much more of note in the game, they didn’t need to and kept United at bay.

Meanwhile,

is determined to clear his name of match-fixing and is willing to go to the Court of Arbitration to do so. But Dragos Sfrijan did not show for yesterday’s hearing in Dublin when the FAI rejected both players’ appeals.

Ex-athlone Town men Labuts (inset) and Sfrijan were last year slapped with 12-month worldwide bans which expired last month. But the Latvian goalkeeper and Romanian midfielder were determined to fight the charges and submitted appeals a year ago.

But Sfrijan’s case was immediately dismissed as he did not attend the hearing while Labuts’ appeal was rejected.

Having served the year ban and returned to playing, it is believed that Sfrijan may not contest the charges further.

But Labuts - who wants to coach - will now appeal to an independent arbitrator, chosen by the FAI.

If that fails, he will go to the Court of Arbitration.