Athlone Town's brilliant start to the new Division One season continued last night with a comprehensive 3-0 win against woeful St. Francis at Mel's Park. The win saw Athlone move to the top of the table at the expense of Dundalk.

The only surprise on the night was that it took until two minutes before the break before Athlone finally got their noses in front. Captain Conor Frawley broke the deadlock with a powerful far post header.

Within 30 seconds of the restart the game was over as a competition as Andy Myler slotted home from six yards. Athlone's top scorer added his second on the night and his seventh so far this season in the 55th minute from the penalty spot after Ross McNally was penalised for handling the ball inside the box.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Waterford and Sligo Rovers, both on the road.

Waterford travelled to United Park to take on a struggling Drogheda side and came away with a 2-0 win. Even worse for Drogheda is that they had two men stretchered off.

Bernard Bradley went in the first half with a suspected broken leg and goalkeeper Cathal Warfield fell foul of injury in the second half.

Waterford took the lead through a Paul Scully diving header in the 64th minute and secured all three points when Jason Bowman's low shot beat Drogheda sub goalkeeper Justin O'Neill with four minutes left on the clock.

Dundalk were unceremoniously knocked off the top of the table by a resurgent Sligo Rovers thanks to an 84th-minute winner from Padraig Moran.

Sligo took the lead in the 44th minute through Ray McLoughlin but it only lasted three minutes as Martin Reilly pulled things level just after the break. The game looked to be destined for a draw until Moran popped up to score the winner.