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Southport vs. Leigh RMI - Semi Final preview

By Matt Lawton March 3 2008
Tuesday night sees RMI travel to the Lancashire coast to face Blue Square North rivals Southport in the semi final of the Lancashire FA Co-Operative Challenge Trophy, the first time in five years that RMI have appeared in the last four of a knock-out competition.

On that occasion in 2003, a Ged Courtney goal secured a 1-0 semi final victory over Chorley at Hilton Park in the same Lancashire FA Trophy competition, then sponsored by the Marsden Building Society, with Mark Patterson's Leigh side going on to defeat Kendal Town 2-0 in the final at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground, securing RMI's last piece of silverware.

Chorley actually feature in tomorrow evening's other semi final when they host Burscough, Blue Square North conquerors of RMI last week, with the winners qualifying for the final at the County Ground in Leyland, headquarters of the Lancashire FA.

This season's run to the Haig Avenue semi final has seen RMI run out 4-2 victors at home to a spirited Clitheroe side, before winning a 3-1 in an admittedly low-key "Battle of the Borough" at North West Counties side Ashton Athletic.

Hosts Southport have already faced one side from the People's Republic of Leyth, Bent and Bongs after scraping a 1-0 victory over Atherton Collieries at Alder House before a similarly tricky 3-2 home victory over Rossendale United in the Quarter Finals.

Leigh's last visit to Haig Avenue also happened to be in a cup competition, a stunning late Neil Tolson strike sealing a thrilling 4-3 win for an RMI side that included current midfielder Andy Heald in the LDV Vans Trophy, within RMI losing by the same scoreline in the next round at home to a Wrexham side that boasted the likes of Carlos Edwards, Lee Trundle, Darren Ferguson and Dennis Lawrence.

The Sandgrounders are already without Mark Duffy and Chris Lever after suffered injuries in Saturday's somewhat controversial 1-1 draw with Redditch United, while ex-RMI man Neil Prince faces a late fitness test.

Kick off at Haig Avenue is at 7:45pm - get yourself to the coast and make yourselves heard.

The Marsden Trophy, we'll win it two times!

 

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