SHAMROCK ROVERS slumped to their fourth defeat in a row when they were beaten by bottom of the table Athlone Town at St Mel's Park last night.

Athlone's goals came in the first half after outstanding play by Tommy Gaynor and Warren Parkes.

Gaynor gave Athlone the lead in the fifth minute when he broke free of the Rovers defence following a through ball from Parkes. Gaynor easily chipped the advancing goalkeeper Alan O'Neill from close range. The in the following minute Parkes was, put through by Gaynor and when it looked as if the Athlone striker would score, O'Neill managed to clear the danger.

Rovers fell further behind in the 34th minute when Parkes finished off an Athlone move which saw Brian Frawley have three attempts on goal with each of them blocked in succession by O'Neill. When the ball finally broke loose in the six yard box Parkes ran on to claim his eighth goal of the season.

Rovers came close to getting a goal back in the second half when Padraig Dully looked to have done enough when he beat Shane Curran in the Athlone goal but Frank Derby managed to get back in time to clear.