WOODY BLUES

Harry leaves Linfield down in the dumps as Shels make history with progression

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

THE away fans at Windsor Park sang long into the night about “Shelbourne FC, enjoying ourselves’ - and well they might after an historic night for the club.

Around 1,200 supporters made the trip to Belfast to see the Reds ease into the league phase of a European competition for the first time.

And thousands more will be tuning into today’s lunchtime draw at UEFA headquarters to see what pockets of Europe this love affair will take them to next.

Shelbourne’s season is now extended to at least the week before Christmas - and just for good measure the club coffers will swell with a cool €3.8million guaranteed.

Harry Wood, the team’s man for the big moments, saw to that by setting the Reds on the path to victory with an early volleyed goal before Ali Coote boxed everything off. With only half an hour played, Linfield were down and out, utterly devoid of ideas and stripped of their spirit and motivation by a meticulous Shels side.

ABBAs The Winner Takes It All blared around the stadium just as both teams were completing their pre-match warm-ups — but at no point was this game in any doubt.

Evan Caffrey’s goal in Tolka Park a week ago saw to that, as it gifted Shels a precious two-goal cushion and removed any real anxiety over this deciding showdown.