Sligo Rovers had too much for Longford Town as they grabbed a 2-0 win in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash at the Showgrounds.
Town nearly struck first, Aodh Dervin broke up the Sligo play with the ball came out to Aaron Dobbs who delivered a perfect ball into the Sligo box, only for Dylan Grimes to shoot over from close range.
However, the home side took the lead against the run of play on 17 minutes as a Walter Figueira 30-yard shot swerved viciously and ended up in the Longford net off the gloves of Town keeper Mick Kelly.
Sligo nearly made it two just after the half hour mark as Ryan De Vries weaved his way past three Longford defenders before drilling a low 20-yard shot that forced Kelly into a good save at his left post.
Longford almost equalized on 36 minutes. Grimes floated a corner in from the right that was headed narrowly over by striker Dobbs.
Sligo doubled their lead from the penalty spot on 13 minutes into the second-half as Town defender Paddy Kirk handled the ball, and Jordan Gibson stepped up to slot home the resultant penalty.
Rovers had a good chance to make it 3-0 in the 67th minute but Town stopper Kelly produced a good save from Figueira.
The home side could have made in three in stoppage time as Gibson controlled the ball well inside the penalty area, slipped his marker, but his rising shot just went over the Longford bar.
Sligo Rovers (4-2-3-1): McGinty, Horgan, Buckley, Mahon, McCourt, Banks, Morahan, De Vries, Gibson, Figueira, Kenny.
Substitutes: Parkes for De Vries (63 minutes), Blaney for Horgan (77 minutes), Donelon for Kenny (80 minutes)
Longford Town (4-2-3-1): Kelly, Elworthy, Joe Manley, O’Driscoll, Kirk, Dervin, Robinson, Thompson, Rob Manley, Grimes, Dobbs.
Substitutions: Chambers for Elworthy (57 minutes), Bolger for Robinson (65 minutes), Davies for Thompson (72 minutes), Verdon for Rob Manley (72 minutes.
Referee: Ben Connolly.
