With last weekend's victory doing wonders for the confidence of those involved at Hilton Park, it was hoped yet another relegation 'six pointer', a seemingly weekly occurrence in the Blue Square North, would galvanise the Leigh side and set them further on the road to survival.

However, their sizeable following, largely in attendance thanks to free coach travel provided by the club and new chairman Dominic Speakman, were to be disappointed as early as the third minute when Tim Gould headed a cross past Tim Dittmer in the RMI goal.

Though RMI's players of the recent past may have been criticised for showing a lack of passion or commitment to the cause, such a criticism certainly can't be levelled at the team of the present, with Gavin Salmon and Rob Marsh-Evans both shedding blood for the cause, with bandaged centre half Marsh-Evans, in particular, taking on a look that was more than reminiscent of a bloodied Terry Butcher in his prime.

Midfielder Robin Gibson twice went close in the first half, with well-struck volleys flying agonisingly wide of the target, before the second half introduction of exciting forward Richard Chetcuti swung the balance of the game further in RMI's favour, the England Under 18 international first having a goalbound shot blocked the desperate lunge of a defender, before an equaliser with just five minutes remaining was prevented only by a fine diving save from Solihull goalkeeper Daniel Crane.

The visitors dominated much of the second half but, with top scorer Kieran Lugsden leaving the club to join Buxton, lacked a killer touch in front of goal.

The defeat leaves RMI three points adrift of safety ahead of Tuesday night's visit to Hilton Park of promotion chasers AFC Telford United (7:45pm kick off) in what is yet another vital game, before the short trip to Hyde United the following Saturday (9th February, 3pm).

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