With predecessor Humphreys paying the price for RMI's relatively poor start to the season, Bleasdale had barely a week to become acquainted with his new charges ahead of a vital encounter with fellow strugglers Vauxhall Motors at a Rivacre Park ground from which RMI have managed to collect only one point from a possible six in previous Conference North visits.

It was RMI who had the majority of the opening play, with Kevin Rapley, Andy Heald and Kieran Lugsden all missing chances, while centre back Mark Maddox had an effort cleared off the line before the visitors were to have a goal disallowed for obstruction.

Bearing such dominance in mind, it came as somewhat of a shock that the home side took the lead five minutes before the interval when Anthony Wright took advantage of the failure of the RMI defence to effectively clear their lines, striking the ball in to the net from the edge of the penalty area to give the Motormen a one goal lead at the break.

Eleven minutes in to the second half and RMI were back on level terms when Kieran Lugsden claimed the decisive touch in a goalmouth scramble before substitute Richard Chetcuti put Leigh in front with his first goal of the season with fifteen minutes of the game remaining, reacting quickest to the rebound from an Andy Heald shot.

However, RMI's joy was not to last when they conceded a heartbreaking equaliser in the final minute of play, with David Roberts taking advantage of a certain amount of luck with his shot hitting the net with the aid of the crossbar to earn a point for his side.

Although an obvious disappointment to miss out on a vital three points at such a late point of the game, the Leigh performance will provide plenty of heart ahead of the long trip to the North East next Saturday for yet another vital Blue Square North encounter at Blyth Spartans, another side that find themselves alongside RMI at the wrong end of the table.

 

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