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Chester City 5 Leigh RMI 0

By Matt Lawton December 26 2003
A Darryn Stamp hat trick helped high-flying Chester City consign RMI to their second defeat in a row in a humiliating 5-0 Boxing Day defeat at the Deva Stadium.
RMI went in to the game in determined mood, looking to make up for last weekend’s disappointing home defeat to Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley as they made the short trip to Chester, but they were never really in the game and didn’t deserve very much more than the thrashing they received.

RMI were on the back foot right from the outset, and they were 1-0 down inside ten minutes when Seals striker Daryl Clare fired past Gary Kelly after intercepting a poor back-pass from former Runcorn and Newcastle midfielder Mike Harris.

Chester could’ve increased their lead barely two minutes later when Danny Collins’ header was blocked by Steve Redmond, though City did eventually increase their lead five minutes later when Darryn Stamp fired home his first of the afternoon, converting with his left foot after a cross from former Barnsley full back Carl Regan.

Chester were rampant, and with such a quality side in such a determined mood, RMI didn’t stand much a chance, and they conceded another goal to go three down inside the first 25 minutes when Stamp scored his second, this time scoring with his right foot from the edge of RMI’s six yard box.

RMI then started to get their act back together and, although Chester still piled on the pressure, they stayed more secure than previously and didn’t concede again in the remaining 20 minutes of the first half, although they did ride their luck with Daryl Clare having his shot saved by Gary Kelly before later hitting the frame of the RMI goal.

It took a whole hour before RMI had their first meaningful attempt on goal when Paul Shepherd shot from the edge of the area and, although he missed the target, it was a start.

Chester continued to create chances, with Clare again continued to squander chances, while former Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Gary Kelly made a couple of decent saves in the RMI goal to keep the score line down to a more respectable level.

Former Manchester City trainee Adrian Orr, who has been impressive since joining RMI on trial a couple of months ago, came on to replace former Bury and Manchester City veteran Steve Redmond, but by then it was too late to mount a serious challenge. Barely three minutes after the substitution however, RMI were 4-0 down when Stamp completed his hat trick, converting Kevin McIntyre’s cross.

McIntyre then hit the woodwork with four minutes, before RMI’s embarrassment was completed less than a minute after McIntyre’s attempt when former RMI striking legend Michael Twiss (oh how we could do with him back in the side) set up former Colchester United striker Kevin Rapley to give the home side a 5-0 victory.

RMI went close, hitting the bar near the end, but the game was long lost by then.

The only is way up as they say.

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