North hits two as slick Sligo extend their lead at the top

Sligo Rovers 3 Shelbourne 0:DANNY NORTH scored in each half as Sligo Rovers kept their unbeaten run intact at the Showgrounds last night.

It was the former St Patrick’s Athletic striker’s 12th goal for Sligo since joining the club. North scored his second in the 47th minute after giving his side the lead in the 43rd minute.

Substitute Pascal Millien, who replaced North, made it 3-0 for the home side in the 85th minute, a minute after coming on for his first appearance for the club.

Lee Lynch played the ball to Millien on the right and he beat two defenders before curling a dipping effort from the edge of the area past Dean Delany in the visitors’ goal.

Earlier Paddy Kavanagh forced Sligo goalkeeper Gary Rogers into a smart save inside a minute in the first half as the Shelbourne man bore down on goal.

David Cassidy had a 25-yard effort blocked by the home defence in the fourth minute and a quick counter-attack by Sligo saw Romauld Boco taken down but Mark Quigley’s free-kick was cleared. A clever ball in by skipper Danny Ventre after 14 minutes found Jason McGuinness but his blistering drive whistled wide of Delaney’s goal.

Anto Murphy’s clever run up the wing three minutes later unhinged the home defence but the danger was cleared.

A timely interception by Barry Clancy averted the danger in the 25th minute as North raced towards goal but nothing came from Quigley’s corner kick.

Sligo stepped up a gear after the half-hour mark and Quigley’s teasing ball across the face of goal had the visitors’ defence at full stretch.

A superb Shelbourne move took the home side apart after 38 minutes but a counter-attack by the Rovers then put Alan Keane through on goal.

But rock solid defending by Shelbourne again kept Ian Baraclough’s side at bay.

Sligo went ahead two minutes before half-time when Danny North raced in on goal as acres of space opened up in front of him as the hitherto solid Shelbourne defence was caught cold. Delaney got a hand to the ball but he was unable to keep it out.

SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Davoren, Peers, McGuinness, Keane, Ventre (Dillon 86), Cawley, Cretaro, Boco, Quigley (Lynch 59), North (84).

SHELBOURNE: Delaney, Matthews, Boyle, Cronin (Hughes 74) , Cassidy, Kavanagh (Byrne, h-t), Shorthall, Clancy, Gorman, Murphy, Sullivan (Dawson 54).

Referee: P Tuite (Cork)