Chester, who had already put 5 past RMI on Boxing Day, were confident of doing the same again despite RMI's home advantage, although that advantage went out of the window with the majority of RMI's record league crowd of 2,002 made up of travelling Chester supporters.

Many of the same supporters had made the same journey last season to see their side pull off an impressively easy 4-0 victory, and they were hoping for the same again, although they were wary of RMI's impressive record against the so-called "big clubs", which has seen them pick up three points away to Hereford, and two impressive points in the home encounters with former Football League outfits Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town.

The odds where stacked against the Railwaymen from the start, with former Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Gary Kelly sidelined with a broken thumb that he picked up in the aforementioned Boxing Day defeat, meaning there was a Conference debut for former Newcastle United trainee Ian Martin, who had previously produced several impressive performances in goal during RMI's pre-season campaign. Martin recovered from some early nerves to produce an excellent performance, which included him saving a penalty, which will surely give RMI manager Phil Starbuck food for thought when he next thinks about who his number one goalkeeper is.

Two other RMI debutants, Paul Rickers, who had earlier signed on loan from Northampton Town, and the impressive Mario Daniel, combined early on to find Paul Shepherd who flicked the ball just wide of the goal. As Leigh settled into the game they where looking more comfortable and playing much better football than in previous weeks, with Andy Roscoe picking out Wayne Maden with a great cross only to see the former Blackpool star head the ball over the bar, and break his nose in the process.

Despite a decent opening to the game, Leigh were just out-classed by the sheer brilliance of a Chester side that seems destined for higher climes. RMI defender Martyn Lancaster, facing his former club, handled the ball in the area just after 30 minutes, and as the whole of Hilton Park thought this was the start of a demoralising defeat, Martin saved Daryl Clare's spot-kick and gave Leigh a new lease of life.

Leigh had only a couple of minutes to celebrate the save, when Clare made ammends for his miss by blasting into the roof of the net from a Kevin McIntyre corner. This still didn't kill RMI's spirit as they almost hit back immediatley when Shepherd drove the ball just wide from a right-foot shot.

If Leigh's spirits hadn't died out by then, they sure did after Chester took a two-goal lead when Darryn Stamp challenged a McIntyre cross enough to force Steve Redmond to head the ball past his own keeper. The scores stayed the same until half-time, though barely minute after the break City had extended their lead when yet another McIntyre cross found Stamp who made no mistake heading home.

It was Martin's turn to shine now, as he performed extremely well in goal denying Chester anything else. He did enough to make Alex Smith hit the cross-bar instead of the goal and also denied Stamp his second of the afternoon saving well.

Debutant Rickers had a wild shot from about 25-yards which was surely heading for goal but just struck the foot of the post. This gave Leigh yet another glimmer of hope as they started to create chances again and play quality football.

It wasn't long until Leigh had pulled one back, again the two debutants Rickers and Daniel combined, with Daniel finishing off a great move. Martin continued to be outstanding at the other end, saving a point-blank shot from Clare and keeping Leigh alive. With only twelve minutes remaing, Warren Peyton made it a nervy last few minutes for the visitors after finding space to turn and shoot in the penalty area and beat Chester keeper Ian McCaldon to make it 3-2.

Peyton's goal gave hope of an unlikely, and famous, comeback to the vastly outnumbered RMI faithful, but unfortunatley RMI were unable to make another chance to score, though Ian Martin again kept his side in the game, and within a goal of the visitors, after making numerous saves from both Clare and Stamp.

However, Chester's quality eventually told, and in the 88th minute, they scored their long-awaited fourth goal of the afternoon when former Barnsley defender Carl Regan picked out an unmarked Clare who headed home to settle City's nerves. To add insult to injury, City managed to score twice in injury time, Clare completing his hat-trick before Alex Smith scored a 30-yard freekick, making the scoreline look a bit more one-sided than it actually was.

Leigh RMI: Martin, Harrison, Lancaster, Redmond, Shepherd, Roscoe, Maden, Rezai, Rickers, McNiven, Daniel. Subs: Whitehead, Peyton, Barrowclough, Tickle, Mike Harris.

Chester: McCaldon, Ruffer, Guyett, Collins, McIntyre, Carey, Smith, Carden, Regan, Stamp, Clare. Subs: Harris, Davies, Rapley, Twiss, Bolland.

Referee: J Tattan (Liverpool)