Shelbourne sent managerless Sligo Rovers tumbling to their fifth Eircom League defeat in a row at the Showgrounds last night and moved six points clear at the top of the Premier Division table in the process with three games left to play.

Sligo's hopes of getting anything from the game evaporated in the 68th minute as an Alan Moore corner caught the home side napping. In his efforts to clear the ball Adam Hughes headed past Richard Brush in the Sligo goal.

Paul McTiernan went close to pulling a goal back a minute later and Seán Dillon had the ball in the Sligo net again late in the second half but the linesman's flag saved the home side.

Sligo have now failed to score in their last seven games, including two in the FAI Cup.

Steve Williams was quick off his line to smother a Darren Mansaram effort after three minutes as the home side showed early promise. Gary O'Neill, Glen Crowe and Moore had chances for the visitors but Sligo survived the barrage.

Jamie Harris grazed the Sligo bar with a header from a Joseph Ndo cross on 11 minutes.

Sligo survived some anxious moments after former Cameroon international Ndo unhinged the defence but the ball was deflected for a corner on 20 minutes. Sligo were then dealt a blow when striker Mansaram was stretchered off with a hamstring injury. This followed the loss of Harpal Singh with a shoulder injury after five minutes.

Stuart Byrne put Shelbourne ahead in the 28th minute with a blistering 25-yard drive from a Moore corner. Harris and Crowe went close for the visitors minutes earlier.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Peers, Foy, McNamara, O'Grady, Hughes, Kudozovic, McTiernan, Mansaram, McKenzie, Singh. Subs: Curran for Singh (5 mins), Bellew for Mansaram (21), Aisien for McTiernan (89).

SHELBOURNE: Williams, Rodgers, Harris, Cahill, S Byrne, Crowe, Moore, O'Neill, Ndo, Hawkins, Dillon. Subs: Baker for Ndo (27), J Byrne for Crowe (75), O'Halloran for Moore (81).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).