RMI started the game much the brightest and went close early on when former Barnsley winger Carl Barrowclough forced Scarborough goalkeeper Leigh Walker in to a smart save, while former Hamilton Academicals striker David McNiven also went close for the hosts in the opening few minutes.

The visitors barely bore a threat to RMI and the Railwaymen took a deserved lead early on when former Blackpool man Wayne Maden headed home a Warren Peyton free kick to put his side in front after just five minutes of action.

Maden's goal prompted the visitors in to action, though RMI didn't exactly help their cause, making several basic defensive errors as they piled the pressure back upon theirselves.

RMI were lucky to escape barely a few minutes after Maden's goal when former Nuneaton Borough striker Mark Quayle went down under a challenge from RMI captain Martyn Lancaster in the RMI penalty area, only for the referee to defy the cries for a penalty and alienate the visiting Scarborough contingent who had gathered behind that particular goal.

Former Chester defender Lancaster was having a torrid evening and was being tormented by Quayle almost constantly, the striker, once of RMI, going close with a shot from just the inside the area which hit the side netting, before he created some space on 23 minutes for the Seadogs' FA Cup hero of Saturday afternoon's 1-0 home victory over Third Division side Doncaster Rovers, former Barnsley star Karl Rose, to nod the ball unchallenged past Gary Kelly in the RMI goal.

Although the visitors continued to attack, and Quayle continued to be a thorn in the side of Lancaster, RMI played with the kind of conviction and quality that had been blatantly lacking during the ill-fated reign of Mark Patterson earlier this season, and, although Scarborough had chances, RMI played some excellent attacking football when in possession.

However, those times in possession were at times few and far between, with Neil Durkin in particular slicing clearance after clearance to put his side under continued pressure.

RMI's defensive cause was not helped when recently appointed player-assistant manager Steve Redmond had to leave the field after picking up a leg injury in a rash challenge, with Redmond being replaced by debutant Adi Orr, who had been signed earlier in the day.

Redmond: Injury adds to RMI woes

Despite Redmond's injury, RMI's defence kept firm and they deservedly went in at half time on level terms with their buoyant visitors.

RMI boss Phil Starbuck, managing in his first home game as RMI manager, was dealt a blow at half time when another injury affected his side, with this time Carl Barrowclough having to withdraw from the action, being replaced by Paul Shepherd, who happened to have an excellent second half in place of the former Barnsley winger.

The second started in much the same vein as the first did, with RMI putting their opponents under immediate pressure. RMI had a golden opportunity to regain the lead when Gerry Harrison burst into the visitors penalty area, only to be brought down just inside the box. Adi Orr fired home the rebound but it wasn't to be allowed, the referee having already awarded the penalty prior to Orr smashing the ball into the net with a smart finish.

RMI's top scorer McNiven stepped up to hopefully put his side back in front from twelve yards, however, his penalty was too close to the goalkeeper and Walker saved comfortably, guessing correctly and diving to his right-hand side.

RMI continued to play well, and their attacking football was a joy to behold at times, with Ian Monk having an excellent game down the right wing, given more attacking freedom after an excellent first half defensive performance playing at right wing back in a 3-5-2 formation.

However, as time wore on, Scarborough's superior quality and fitness began to take toll, with the hosts tiring and Boro's full-time training beginning to shine through.

The Seadogs took the lead for the first time in the encounter when, with the game well into it's final quarter, Mark Quayle slotted a smart finish past Gary Kelly to delight the travelling support.

The visitors extended their lead barely four minutes later, when Kelly was harshly adjudged to have brought down Quayle, despite the former Nuneaton striker seemingly only tripping over the body of Kelly as both tried to retrieve a rebound following another excellent Kelly save. Quayle fired home the penalty against his former club, and Scarborough were in the comfort zone.

The scoreline was then given a rather undeserved, more emphatic, look when Chris Senior fired a first time volley past Kelly following a cheeky flick from Ashley Sestanovic to put his side three goals to the good.

Although RMI boss Starbuck will be disappointed at his side conceding four goals at Hilton Park for the second time in barely a month, he will be encouraged by what was at times an excellent attacking performance of which he can be particularly proud.

He will also be rightly pleased at the performance of substitute Adi Orr, who played excellent on his RMI debut and certainly looks an astute acquisition. Paul Shepherd had an excellent second half as a half time substitute and has certainly played himself into contention for a starting spot in Saturday's vital game away to Telford United, while Ian Monk again had a good game at right wing back.

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