With such a heavy defeat fresh in the minds of players and supporters alike, Leigh boss Steve Bleasdale had a big task on his hands to restore the shattered confidence of his revamped side, and that mission wasn't made any easier as he found his side two goals before the break against play-off chasing Boston United.
First Mbiyeye Medine, shortly after the half hour mark, and then Jonathan Rowan on the stroke of half-time took advantage of a degree of hesitancy in the home defence to put United firmly in the driving seat and leave the hosts staring at the likelihood of their third successive defeat, with the first twenty minutes of the second half doing little to change such an impression.
However, Bleasdale made the type of call that he was brought in to make when introducing Richard Chetcuti from the substitutes bench with just over twenty minutes of the game remaining, with the one-time Chelsea trialist changing the game in an almost an instant.
The former England Under 18 international picked up the ball out wide and set off on a determined run that created the space for top scorer Kieran Lugsden to eventually tee up Owen Roberts, playing on the left side of midfield as opposed to his usual left back role, to drill home a sweet left foot strike and half the deficit.
The goal changed the balance of the game had been turned on it's head and, having been in control for the previous seventy minutes, Boston suddenly looked particularly vulnerable.
Leigh goalkeeper John Lamb sent a huge punt up field that released the impressive Lugsden who in turn played a delightful ball for Chetcuti to fire the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Lee Crockett and level the scores with just fifteen minutes left.
Within seconds of the equaliser, it looked as though the result was to be again in doubt when Leigh midfielder Andy Heald received his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a rash challenge on the edge of the centre circle.
Cue an agonising period of defending, including a header being tipped magnificently on to the crossbar by Lamb, for the home side as Boston searched in vain for an equaliser that didn't arrive, leaving the Railwaymen to celebrate an unlikely point, their first at home since Bleasdale took the reigns from predecessor Stuart Humphreys.
RMI now have a week to prepare before travelling to Alfreton Town next Saturday (3:00pm) for another vital Blue Square North fixture.
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