SLIGO ROVERS missed the chance to close the gap on the leaders in the Premier Division when they slumped to a shock defeat to bottom of the table, Galway United at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Sligo have only themselves to blame for this potentially disastrous setback, after presenting Galway with two freak goals inside the opening eight minutes.

And if that wasn't bad enough, Sligo contrived to miss a hat-full of chances including a 42nd minute penalty.

Galway, who still haven't given up hope of hanging on to their premier division status, got the perfect start when Mark Herrick gave them the lead in the sixth minute, following a dreadful defensive blunder involving Sligo goalkeeper, Mark McLean and central defender Brendan Aspinall.

Even worse followed for Sligo two minutes later when McLean, in attempting to clear a pass back from a defender, only succeeded in playing the ball straight to the feet of John Brennan who gratefully side-footed to the net.

Sligo responded with a bout of the same pressure and James Mulligan and Ian Gilzean both wasted glorious opportunities to get their side back into contention.

Then, just three minutes before the break, Robert Brunton blasted wide from the penalty spot after Padraig Moran had been upended in the area.