League Report: Sligo Rovers 3 - 1 Athlone Town

Sligo Rovers have returned to fifth in the Airtricity League Premier Division following a 3-1 victory over Athlone Town at The Showgrounds on Saturday evening.

Following an uneventful first half, John Russell broke the deadlock within a minute of the restart. Evan McMillan made sure of the points with two goals in quick succession before Sam O'Connor could score a consolation goal for the visitors.

The first shot on goal came to Iarfhlaith Davoren after four minutes with a close range strike hitting Derek Prendergast before going out of play. Kalen Spillane found himself on the end of the resulting corner but could not direct an effort on target.

These early chances proved to be the height of excitement in the first half as a header from Prendergast moments before the break was the closest Athlone could come to taking a lead against the run of play.

The Bit O'Red managed to break the deadlock almost immediately after returning to action. A mishit Spillane ball fell kindly for Evan McMillan who poked the ball through for John Russell to apply a confident finish in to the top right corner.

Danny Ledwith came close on two occasions to doubling Rovers lead from a free-kick and a header, either side of a decent Mark Hughes chance.

Eight minutes from time Rovers were given a two goal cushion as Russell turned provider when he whipped a corner in to the box with McMillan rising highest to head it home. Two minutes later, McMillan would get on the end of another corner, this time connecting with David Cawley's delivery, shooting low in to the bottom corner and well out of Ryan Coulter's reach.

With just a minute of normal time remaining Keith Long's men pulled a goal back when substitute Sam O'Connor found himself in space to score what would ultimately be a consolation goal with his first touch of the game.

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Kalen Spillane, Evan McMillan, Iarfhlaith Davoren (Danny Ledwith, '13); Seamus Conneely, David Cawley, John Russell, Sean Maguire, Daryl Kavanagh (Ruairi Keating, '72); Eamon Zayed (Regan Donelon, '87)
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Gavin Peers, Paul O'Conor, Eric Odhiambo.

Booked: None.

Athlone Town: Ryan Coulter; Dylan Hayes, Derek Prendergast, Alan Byrne (Stephen Dunne, '84), Kevin Knight; Eric Foley, Mark Hughes (Sam O'Connor, '79), John Mulroy (James O'Brien, '61), Derek Doyle, Kealon Dillon; Philip Gorman.
Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Aidan Collins, Thomas Mulroney, Ian Sweeney.

Booked: Hayes (24), A Byrne (56), Gorman (90).

Referee: Ray Matthews

Attendance: 1,710