Leigh RMI 1 Workington 3 (FA Trophy)
By Matt Lawton
December 15 2007
After scoring twice in the Co-Operative Challenge Cup win at Ashton Athletic in midweek, Mark Smyth's third goal in a week wasn't enough to prevent RMI tumbling out of the FA Trophy at the First Round stage with a disappointing defeat to Blue Square North rivals Workington on a freezing Hilton Park afternoon.
December 15 2007
After scoring twice in the Co-Operative Challenge Cup win at Ashton Athletic in midweek, Mark Smyth's third goal in a week wasn't enough to prevent RMI tumbling out of the FA Trophy at the First Round stage with a disappointing defeat to Blue Square North rivals Workington on a freezing Hilton Park afternoon.
It was RMI, bottom of the league yet impressive winners at rivals Burscough in the previous round, that dominated the first half but, after finding the Workington goalkeeper in inspired form to deny them, it was the Cumbrians that were leading at the break when Matthew Berkeley slotted past young Leigh goalkepeer Ben Saynor after a cross was headed back across the penalty area.
Despite making several new signings in recent weeks, Leigh boss Steve Bleasdale FA Trophy rules on cup-tied players meant that he had to largely kept faith with the side that won in a thrilling Third Qualifying Round tie, and his faith was rewarded when Mark Smyth, scorer of two goals in the 3-1 Co-Operative Challenge Cup Quarter Final victory in the 'Battle of the Borough' at Ashton Athletic in midweek, saw his shot deflected in to the net after a smart Kieran Lugsden lay-off on the edge of the penalty area.
The scores were to remain level for barely a matter of minutes, however, when Craig Johnson was given far too much time on the ball when positioned just outside the RMI penalty area and had enough space to chest the ball down and send a half-volley on the turn crashing past Saynor to restore the visitors' lead.
Lugsden came close to levelling the scores once again when he took advantage of a miscued clearance, only for his clever lob to grasped desperately on the line by the retreating Reds goalkeeper.
Debutant midfielder Neil Gibson had a seemingly goal bound shot desperately blocked before Neil Carroll had a shot tipped wide as Leigh pushed for an equaliser, only for Workington to seal the victory on the counter attack when Jonny Wright was able to break clear and clip a back post shot passed Saynor and ensure his side's passage in to the Second Round.
Bleasdale has made no secret of the fact that this season's priority is without doubt the club's league campaign, so his side's elimination from the Trophy won't provide too much disappointment, while it's a welcome relief to be avoiding the prospect of a midweek trip to Cumbria for a replay ahead of next Saturday's daunting trip to Northamptonshire to face front runners Kettering Town.
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