Leigh RMI 1 Wigan Athletic 1 by Martyn Hindley
IT took just three and a half minutes for the post-McNiven misery to subside.
Leigh fans wary that the Queen of the South bound striker had scored a healthy percentage of RMI's goals last season were assured by his replacement that things would not always be doom and gloom from now on.
Craig Mitchell, fresh from the fringes of the Mansfield Town first team, opened the scoring in this positive friendly with the coolest of finishes to Warren Peyton's through ball.
And the pace, support play and general awareness of the 19-year-old striker provided the most heart-warming element of an entertaining local derby.
Wigan are widely tipped for a play-off place in this season's Coca-Cola Championship, but in fielding five prominent first-teamers, they were guaranteed to give friendly-free RMI a solid workout.
One of them, Alan Mahon, should have equalised when Leigh's triallist 'keeper John Lamb miscued a clearance from Andy Roscoe's backpass. But the midfielder skewed his snapshot well side from 20 yards. Lamb did redeem himself three minutes later though when he made a fine one-handed save to keep out Neil Roberts' glancing header from a long throw.
But a rejuvenated, new-look Leigh played attractive football and looked organised throughout the first period.
Captain Barry Miller at the heart of defence was outstanding, both in the air and in his leadership, whilst Peyton's desire was plain for all to see after the resolution of his dispute with the club.
Peyton almost created a second for the Railwaymen from a corner, but Ryan McDowell spurned the chance to impress on his debut as a triallist as his header from point-blank range was always arching away from goal.
For all the appeal of the first 45 minutes, the game fizzled after the interval amidst a flurry of substitutions and an injury to Latics midfielder Jason Jarrett, who could miss the start of the season with a suspected broken bone in his right foot.
But Leigh substitute Mario Daniel had the chance to wrap up Leigh's first ever friendly win over their rivals when Peyton's lofted through ball sent him away. Only Joseph Waterhouse's exquisitely-timed challenge rescued the visitors from relinquishing the bragging rights.
Where Daniel had failed though, opposite number Neil Roberts excelled.
With three minutes to go, he lunged at a route one delivery from defence to guide the ball past Ian Martin and into the corner from 18 yards.
"Just for us to play against a side like Wigan is a good experience", beamed manager Phil Starbuck.
"It's great of Paul Jewell to send so many first-teamers and good for us that we competed so well and looked so sharp and fit this early in the season."
Leigh: John Lamb, Martin Moran (both trial), Barry Miller, Andy Roscoe, Chris Lane, Carl Adams, Steve Smith, Warren Peyton, Gareth Holmes, Craig Mitchell, Ryan McDowell (trial). Subs: Mario Daniel, Gavin Ellison, Lindsay West (trial), Graham Tench, Ricky Howarth.
Attendance: 650
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