Accrington Stanley 0 Leigh RMI 2 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH RMI produced a genuine FA Cup upset to win away for the first time in 2004 and book their place in the First Round Proper.

Manager Phil Starbuck was forced to start a game for the first time since taking over as boss exactly a year ago due to illness and injury throughout his squad.

But on the first anniversary of replacing Mark Patterson at the Hilton Park helm, Starbuck helped create a fairytale win just a year after crashing out of the cup on the same ground.

Accy started the game in the same vein as they had twelve months ago despite a poor recent run in the league.

Paul Mullin headed against the woodwork inside twelve minutes but it was the only aerial joy he had against Craig Gaunt and Barry Miller, both of whom were imperious in defence.

RMI countered with the opening strike of the game. Chris Lane picked out Chris Simm with a first-time cross and the former Congleton striker didn't falter with his header past Danny Alcock.

All of a sudden, it was shades of the tie at Droylsden at the same stage six years ago, only this time Leigh were second favourites.

Having made it safely to half-time, every Accy attack was greeted with butterflies-in-stomachs for the small travelling contingent desperate to see First Round action for their side for the first time since the Millwall controversy of 2000.

They had to survive several half-chances for the hosts; Gaunt bravely blocking Ian Craney's delayed shot and Paul Crichton safely gathering Paul Cook's tame follow-up.

All over the park, Leigh harried and forced errors - Stanley couldn't keep hold of the ball.

Then, with sixteen minutes left in the egg-timer, passage to the first round hat was controversially assured.

Simm - the scourge of Stanley for the afternoon - slipped the ball past Alcock as RMI countered and Leigh were awarded their first penalty of the season.

Karl Rose epitomised the visiting determination and with head bandaged and bloodied after an early clash of heads, he sent Alcock the wrong way to double the lead. Both Simm and Rose had opportunities to add humiliation to defeat for their neighbours, but both were spurned.

It couldn't prevent scenes of jubilation at the whistle as Starbuck's side pocketed a five-figure windfall and a date with Cambridge City on Saturday week. The troubles of the league erased for the day, this was an unforgettable game that could become the turning point in the club's short history.