NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Cobh Ramblers 1 Sligo Rovers 3: SLIGO ROVERS moved into the top half of the eircom National League Premier Division table on Saturday evening thanks to a convincing win at St Colman's Park.

Paul Cook's side got off to a dream start and were in front inside the opening three minutes.

Seán Doherty's left-footed shot from just inside the box was deflected beyond Cobh goalkeeper James McCarthy by the outstretched leg of captain Alan Carey.

The visitors had the opportunity to double their lead in the eighth minute when Alan Kearney was penalised for an apparent hand ball in the Ramblers penalty area, but Rommy Boco's subsequent spot-kick was comfortably saved by goalkeeper McCarthy.

Sligo's second goal did arrive two minutes later, however.

Conor O'Grady teed up Anto Murphy on the edge of the Cobh box and his sweet strike soon nestled in the bottom left-hand corner of the Ramblers net.

The home side almost pulled a goal back in the 28th minute when skipper Alan Carey's free-kick from 20 yards out struck the underside of the crossbar.

Boco added to Sligo's lead five minutes after the interval when he headed in Doherty's corner at the near post.

Kieran O'Reilly capitalised on some slack Sligo defending to pull a goal back for Cobh in the 80th minute, but it was scant consolation for Stephen Henderson's side as they were beaten at home for the fourth game in succession.

COBH RAMBLERS: J McCarthy; Carey, Guthrie, B McCarthy, J Meade; O'Shea (C Meade, 64), J Kearney, A Kearney (Coleman, 45), Lally; Cummins, O'Reilly.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush; Coleman, Peers, Almeida (McKenzie, 18), Butler (Judge, 59); Cretaro, O'Grady, Ventre, Doherty; Murphy (Cash, 77), Boco.

Referee: Derek Tomney(Dublin).