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Leigh RMI 1 Nuneaton Borough 3

By Matt Lawton November 17 2007
Despite giving play-off chasing visitors Nuneaton Borough a mighty fright with a spirited second half comeback, RMI's defeat at a chilly Hilton Park saw Steve Bleasdale's side sink to the bottom of the Blue Square North table after basement rivals Hinckley United won their game at home to Workington.

A drab first half saw only two real goalmouth incidents as both sides seemed to show a preference for desperate long balls rather than any kind of structured passing play, with RMI's strike force of Mark Smyth and Kieran Lugsden struggling to compete with aerially superior opponents Neil Moore and Gavin Cowan.

A weak Craig McIlwain header hit Tim Dittmer's right hand post midway through the first half before the visitors took the lead with virtually the last action before the break when Bradley Pritchard was left unmarked on the edge of the Leigh penalty area from a corner kick and was able to smartly the cleverly the ball over the despairing Dittmer and in to the net.

Striker Mark Smyth, scorer of two goals in the midweek cup win over Clitheroe, suffered an injury during the first half and had to be replaced by exciting youngster Richard Chetcuti at the break while centre half Mark Maddox again succumbed to his own injury curse during the second period, with Steve Brockley partnering Stephen Hill in the centre of the RMI defence as a result, while Sean O'Neil was the final substitute to be used by Steve Bleasdale as he replaced the unusually ineffective Lugsden.

It took only ten minutes of the second half for the visitors to double their lead when Jordan Stepien, on loan from local League Two side Bury, originally headed against the crossbar, only to convert the rebound, despite miscuing the ball somewhat.

It took another fifteen minutes before the hosts mounted any kind of response when Steve Settle halved the deficit with twenty minutes remaining, lashing the ball past Darren Acton before the Nuneaton goalkeeper had to be at his best to tip a stunning Owen Roberts strike over the bar from thirty five yards out when it seemed to be heading straight for the net and heralding another terrific RMI comeback, hot on the heels of recovering a two goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Boston United in their previous home league game.

Leigh mounted a sustained barrage of attacks but, despite a large degree of possession and several corner kicks, were unable to find a killer touch, and the game was effectively ended with just five minutes remaining when Andy Brown smartly headed in a near post cross to seal RMI's fate.

RMI must now pick themselves up ahead of a potential payday next weekend when they make the short journey to Conference North rivals Burscough for a Third Qualifying Round tie in the FA Trophy.

 

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