By Chris Ashmore

Finn Harps   0   Sligo Rovers   2

Finn Harps have been plunged back into a nerve-wracking scrap to avoid relegation following a thoroughly disheartening defeat at the hands of old rivals Sligo Rovers at Finn Park on Friday night.

This third straight home defeat means that Harps are now in real danger of making a quick return to the First Division after just one season back in the top flight of Irish soccer.

A few weeks ago, Harps had opened up a seven point advantage over the bottom three. The promised land of survival in the Premier loomed.

Now, though, the Donegal club - already beset by financial worries - is suddenly struggling for its footballing life.

For the third time this season the Bit o’ Red triumphed against Harps, and once again Paul Cook’s side fully deserved its victory.

Harps have a nasty habit of reserving their worst performances for games in front of the television cameras; sadly this was a case of deja-vu.

But what was particularly worrying for the Finn Park faithful was that there really was a gulf in class between the two sides. Sligo looked so much more organised, passed the ball better, and had the edge in every sector of the park. They looked like a professional football outfit. Harps looked no better than a First Division side.

Yes, there are still three games to go. Yes, Harps can still stay up. Yes, one must always hold out hope. But the sad fact remains that the vast majority of people left the venue feeling that Harps are really up against it.

And with two of their final three games away from home, there are genuine grounds for real concerns.

Sligo, by contrast, are finishing the season on a high with an outside chance of Setanta Cup or even a European place still a possibility.

Surprisingly, Harps’ leading striker Conor Gethins was left on the bench, but the home side - hoping to build on a useful point earned in Cork last week - began the more promisingly with Declan Boyle heading just wide as he met a Shaun Holmes free early on.

But Sligo then began to settle and Romauld Boco got into a good position to meet a Sean Doherty cross but could not direct his header on target.

It was end to end stuff in the opening quarter and on 16 minutes Stephen Parkhouse rose to meet a Holmes free only to see it easily saved by Richard Brush.

Rovers then struck two minutes later when Sean Doherty fed the ball into Romauld Boco - back from international duty with Benin - who fired between goalkeeper James Gallagher and the post with question marks being asked about the Harps defence.

With Harps guilty of too many wayward passes, Sligo gradually took control with the lively Doherty playing through Brian Cash only to see his shot stopped by an increasingly busy Gallagher.

The visitors deservedly doubled their tally on 36 minutes - although in a somewhat bizarre fashion.

Sean Doherty was out wide on the right when he whipped in a speculative effort which Gallagher stopped behind the goal-line. After a brief pause, referee Hugo Whoriskey awarded the goal.

Indeed, Harps were fortunate not to have conceded a third before the break when Moro Almedia had a shot blocked by Parkhouse with the home defence looking increasingly suspect.

Harps brought on Gethins on 56 minutes in a bid to salvage something but, in truth, they rarely looked like getting back into the game.

Gethins was put through on goal by Parkhouse on 71 minutes but shot well wide of the goal.

Sligo then went close on 76 minutes when Brian Cash’s cross was met by Moro Almedia but his header was brilliantly tipped around the post by Gallagher.

Gethins hit the side netting for Harps on 82 minutes while Rafael Cretaro shot over at the other end for Sligo.

Harps also had a couple of half-hearted penalty pleas waved away but this was, without doubt, Sligo’s night. Boco, Almedia, Doherty, Seamus Coleman and Cretaro all impressed for the visitors. Only Michael Funston and Stephen Parkhouse emerged with any real credit for an out-of-sorts home side.