SHAMROCK ROVERS took an important step towards easing their relegation worries by beating Dundalk at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk's new manager Eddie May took a risk by dropping his leading scorer, Joe Gallen, from the starting line up but, in truth, both defences were to blame for the goals. In the end Rovers won by taking the chances presented to them and in particular Derek Tracey, who scored two good goals, one in each half.

This was quite an entertaining, fast open game in spite of the errors and could have gone either way.

The important first goal fell to Rovers in the 19th minute when a free, kick, taken by Tracey, was hit on the volley by Pat Fenlon. Dundalk goalkeeper Les Fridge made a good save but Tony Cousins was on hand to force the ball into the net from close range.

It was all Rovers at that stage and it came as no surprise when Tracey scored their second in the 38th minute. However, Dundalk were thrown a lifeline when Peter Withnell scored with a cracking shot from just outside the area two minutes later.

Dundalk improved after the interval but somehow Rovers' shaky defence managed to hold out and survive two penalty appeals for hand ball, before Tracey made the game safe with a good header from a Cousins cross from the right in the 79th minute.

Cousins might have added another score but in the closing stages Dundalk were unlucky when Gallen, who had come on as a substitute, hit the crossbar with a header after a Robbie Devereaux free kick.