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Southport 4 Leigh RMI 0

By Matt Lawton March 4 2008
RMI's interest in the Lancashire FA Co-Operative Challenge Trophy was ended for another season as Steve Bleasdale's Leigh side crashed out at the semi final stage with a comprehensive defeat at Blue Square North rivals Southport.

With a largely full-strength Leigh side, looking to reach the final of the competition for the first time since running out victors over Kendal Town at Accrington Stanley five years ago, taking to the field at a chilly Haig Avenue, there was a degree of optimism amongst the travelling support that hosts Southport might have their minds focused elsewhere when bearing in mind their pre-occupation with fighting for an instant return to the Blue Square Premier following their relegation last summer, and a degree of Leigh's attacking intent was illustrated early on when Leigh midfielder Robin Gibson forced Sandgrounders goalkeeper Steve Drench in to a smart low save when shooting from distance.

RMI striker Mark Smyth, scorer of an exquisite free kick in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Barrow, came close with a free kick after fifteen minutes that dipped narrowly over the crossbar, giving cause to his growing reputation as a dead ball specialist.

As the first half wore on, Southport began to dominate both in terms of territory and possesion, and by the half hour mark they also had an extra man as Gibson lost possession in midfield, launching in to a rash two-footed challenge on Michael Powell that left Lancaster referee Jez Simpson will little option other than to show Gibson a straight red card.

Despite their numerical advantage, Southport failed to break the deadlock before the break, only for them to take the lead within only a few minutes of the restart, centre back Kevin Lee rising unchallenged to head home a corner from former Leigh man Neil Prince to put his side in front.

That lead was doubled on the hour mark when some smart passing on Southport's left flank unlocked RMI's defence as Prince played through Tony Gray, who's shot was diverted in to the net from close range by the potentially offside Mark Houghton.

Drench was forced in to making his first truly challenging save of the evening as he did well to palm another curling Smyth free kick around the post, before the hosts went three goals up with twelve minutes remaining when an unintended rebound from Leigh defender Paul Booth perfectly set up Tony Gray for an unstoppable volley that flew sweetly over Mottram and in to the net.

Southport substitute Josh Hine saw a goal chalked off in stoppage time for offside, but the youngster wasn't to be denied as he headed his first ever senior goal, and his side's fourth of the evening, as he met Houghton's left sided cross with the very last action of the game.

The defeat spells the end of RMI's cup campaigns for the rest of the season, with the league programme restarting on Saturday with a trip to fellow strugglers Hinckley United.

Leigh RMI; Richard Mottram, Paul Booth, Andy Wright, Jonathan Goulding, Matt Lawlor (Andy Heald), Luke Prosser, Steve Settle (Gavin Salmon), Robin Gibson, Richard Chetcuti, Mark Smyth, Bradley Maylett (Neil Carroll)

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