League of Ireland - Shamrock Rovers 4 Dundalk 0 JAMES CHAMBERS scored twice as Shamrock Rovers cruised back to the top of the Premier Division table with this facile win over Dundalk. The win, a third on the spin, confirmed Rovers, unbeaten now in nine league games, are in their best form of the season and augurs well as they ready themselves for the visit of Israeli side Bnei Yehuda here on Thursday night.

Rovers quickly took control with Matt Gregg making terrific saves from Craig Sives and twice from Gary Twigg before the lead arrived on the half hour.

Stephen Rice’s throw in on the right was miss-headed by Dundalk defender Wayne Hatswell straight into the path of Chambers who scored with a gloriously struck volley off his weaker left foot.

Further poor defending from a Paddy Kavanagh corner brought the second goal on 35 minutes as Gregg failed to collect and the ball went into the net of Stephen Maher for an own goal.

Dundalk midfielder Alan Cawley was then caught in possession inside a further minute. Thomas Stewart played Gary Twigg in and the Scotsman drilled his shot past Gregg.

The one-way traffic resumed in the second half with Rovers duly getting a fourth goal on the hour.

Chris Turner threaded Chambers in on the right and the sheer power of the rising shot meant Gregg could only parry it up onto the underside of the bar with the ball dropping down into the net.

SHAMROCK ROVERS:Mannus; Sives, Murray, Price, Stevens; Chambers, Turner, Rice (Bayly, 72 mins.), Kavanagh (O'Connor, 65 mins.); Twigg (Barrett, 70 mins.), Stewart.

DUNDALK:Gregg; Kelly, Miller, Hatswell, Murphy (McGuigan, half-time); Mulvenna (McGowan, 58 mins.), Maher, Cawley, McDonnell; Gaynor, Fenn.

Referee:Dave McKeon (Dublin).