Username
Password
Leigh RMI 1 Alfreton Town 0

By Matt Lawton March 15 2008
Bradley Maylett's late goal, his second in consecutive games, was enough to give RMI a fully-deserved, and indeed long overdue, victory over mid-table Alfreton Town at a blustery Hilton Park.

Although last weekend's loss at fellow strugglers Hinckley United left RMI with a lot to do in their hope of keeping in touch with their relegation rivals, Steve Bleasdale's side played in the manner of one with little pressure on them. Returning goalkeeper Tim Dittmer was a model of reliability in ensuring his side kept their first Blue Square North clean sheet since defeating Hucknall Town in mid-September, with his ability to claim crosses and corner kicks coming under scrutiny of several occasions during the game, with the former Vauxhall Motors goalkeeper passing each test with flying colours.

With midweek signing James Dunn unable to make his debut after suffering a shoulder injury, Mark Smyth was partnered in the RMI attack by Richard Chetcuti, and it was the latter that had a first half penalty appeal turned down when he appeared to be bundled over in the penalty area after a jinking run.

A blustery wind swept across Hilton Park throughout the afternoon and as such many of the balls were caught mid-flight, with the game somewhat degenerating in to a glorified game of head tennis at times, but it was on the ground that the hosts took the lead on seventy five minutes as a left sided corner found it's way to centre back Matt Lawlor on the edge of the six yard box, with the Blackpool loanee, who was later to withdraw from the action with a nasty looking leg injury, doing well to get the ball under control and eventually tee up Bradley Maylett to scramble the ball home for his second goal for the club, following on from his strike at Hinckley last weekend.

Alfreton substitute Danny Reet forced Dittmer in to a smart save with virtually his first touch of the game, Dittmer doing well to palm the ball around the post, but it was a somewhat isolated threat as Leigh midfielder Neil Carroll flashed a half-volley over the crossbar after latching on to substitute Andy Heald's header through as the Leythers looked to claim a decisive second goal.

The fourth official signalling five minutes of time added on meant an agonising wait for the home supporters, but the Leigh defence, marshalled superbly by Rob Marsh-Evans, held firm and allowed players and alike to celebrate a deserved victory that was a long time in coming.

Hucknall's victory at Blyth Spartans means that little has changed in the relegation battle, but the win will still provide plenty of confidence before next week's "War of the Roses" trip to promotion challenging Harrogate Town.

Leigh RMI; Tim Dittmer, Paul Booth, Owen Roberts, Neil Carroll, Matt Lawlor (Andy Heald), Rob Marsh-Evans, Bradley Maylett, Jonathan Goulding, Richard Chetcuti, Mark Smyth (Steve Settle), Andy Wright (Gavin Salmon)

Bookmark or share this story with: