BARNET 3, LEIGH RMI 2: ILL-FORTUNE and Leigh RMI have been joined at the hip this season but have never been as flirtatious as at Underhill.

The clash of top and bottom seemed destined to go against the form-book until yet another second half reversal culminated in injury-time defeat.

Inconsolable as Leigh may have been at another 'nil point' showing, RMI can reflect with pride on their perfect response to the managerial questioning of their commitment seven days before.

But they looked on the verge of another spanking within ninety seconds when the Hertfordshire side snatched the lead.

Giuliano Grazioli scored the winner when the two sides last met in April and he beat Ian Martin once more to convert a clever cross from the probing Simon Clist.

Leigh have buckled under less pressure but hammerings of the recent past immediately flashed before the mind's eye. Five at Exeter, eleven in two games against Chester last season, three without reply at Canvey Island - the list seems endless.

But against the Conference grain, Leigh earned a slice of luck and levelled on 14 minutes.

A shot from Gareth Holmes struck Dwayne Lee on the forearm from close range and the referee found in favour of the visitors by pointing to the spot: the first league penalty of term was comfortably dispatched by Karl Rose.

It was another Gareth who confounded history once more by thinking the unthinkable and putting Leigh ahead. This time Stoker was the celebrant as he rifled home to end a glorious spell of one-touch football in midfield catalysed by the energetic Chris Simm.

Odds-on backers across the nation studied their coupons in disbelief - their television screens and internet conveyed not only that RMI led on merit but also that it would have been three but for Rose's wayward headed connection with a centre from Simm.

It couldn't last. Lee atoned for his earlier handball by paving the way for Nick Bailey to equalise but Barnet still couldn't force their hand on an even contest and roll over their gutsy, if lowly opposition.

Even when Barry Miller succumbed to a second bookable offence, the leaders couldn't make their numerical advantage show.

Liam Hatch headed into the ground with a downwards header that flicked the woodwork before RMI were ultimately crushed in time added on. Lee Roache was the man on the scoresheet, although he owed much to the persistance of the provider Clist, who ended the game with the zip and desire with which he had started it.