RECALLED striker Padraig Moran grabbed two excellent goals as Sligo Rovers plunged relegation-threatened Athlone Town into deeper trouble at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Moran got his chance in the Sligo team because centre-half Gavin Dykes was suspended. Manager Steve Cottrill reshuffled his pack and Moran came up trumps with a five-star performance.

It all started so well for Athlone when they took a shock lead after bust eight minutes. The Sligo defence failed to deal with a cross from Adrian Carberry and Conor Frawley was in like a flash to stab the ball home from close range.

Earlier, Athlone-born Moran was unlucky with a shot which hit the crossbar, but the striker was finally rewarded when he snatched Sligo's equaliser in the 17th minute following good work by Johnny Kenny.

Sligo always looked the more positive side and their pressure paid off when Moran struck for the winner after 61 minutes, crashing the ball to the net at the far post from David Reid's cross.

Further disaster struck Athlone when full-back Carberry was sent off for a second bookable offence just two minutes later. And on a miserable night for the midlanders, their manager Michael O'Connor was sent from the dugout after 70 minutes.

Athlone's misfortune continued when Sligo goalkeeper Mark McLean produced a spectacular save from Warren Parkes in the very last minute.