Despite the game taking place in the middle of the Festive season, visiting Stalybridge had the luxury of an extraordinary amount of rest during what is traditionally a particularly busy period, with the Celts playing just two games previous games in December, including Boxing Day's impressive 3-1 victory at local rivals and previous table-toppers Hyde United, while Steve Bleasdale's much-changed RMI side went in to the game on the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 home win over Workington.

Just as the Cumbrians had been stunned by a lightning RMI start on Boxing Day, Stalybridge too found themselves a goal behind within eight minutes of the game, with tenacious midfielder Robin Gibson taking advantage of a strong wind to arrow a shot straight in to the top corner of Paddy Gamble's goal from the edge of the penalty area, the first time he's hit the net since joining RMI earlier this month.

The shock of falling behind so early in the encounter sparked the play-off chasing visitors in to action but, just as promotion favourites Kettering Town had found a week ago, RMI goalkeeper Tim Dittmer was proving a tough nut to crack, despite torrential rain and strong winds that were worsening by the minute.

Steve Burr's Celtic had provided much of the goalmouth action in the remainder of the first half, the second period was largely proving to be no different and the visitors eventually got themselves back on level terms after ten minutes of the second half when Matty Barlow found the net at the second attempt, despite Steve Brockley's desperate attempt at clearing the ball off the line after Dittmer had blocked Barlow's first strike.

As RMI found themselves on a rare foray in to Stalybridge territory, the visitors quickly sprung a counter attack that ended with James Dean somehow heading over the crossbar when in a central position just a matter of yards from the goal, before the hosts were reduced to ten men when referee Mr. Davies sent off RMI full back Andy Heald after a midfield scuffle with Simon Garner.

RMI's numerical disadvantage saw them falling deeper and deeper in to their own territory, and they were thankful for the intervention of the crossbar when Andrew Smart's cross deceived Dittmer and hit the frame of the goal before they finally took the lead when Garner, lucky to remain on the field after more than playing his part in Heald's red card, took advantage of a smart Terry Barwick lay-off to smash the ball in to Dittmer's bottom corner.

Leigh winger Steve Settle hit the outside of Gamble's left-hand post shortly afterwards before Stalybridge's latest victory was confirmed when Smart, just as he'd been threatening to do throughout the game, hit the net from distance, with his left-footed strike gathering pace from the sodden turf and skipping over Dittmer's despairing dive.

RMI now make the lengthy trip to West Cumbria on New Years' Day for the return fixture with Workington, before a long week of travelling is completed with the visit to Lincolnshire next Saturday to face Boston United.

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