Leigh RMI 2 Aldershot 2 by David Magilton: WHAT would Mark Patterson give to get an even break?

The under pressure RMI manager has witnessed his struggling side fail to get the rub of the green in recent weeks, but just when it appeared David McNiven's super strikes would end their disappointing run, two crucial decisions went against them.

McNiven thought he had grabbed the winner five minutes from time, only for the goal to be disallowed for a marginal offside decision, while earlier, appeals for what looked like a blatant penalty were waved away, after the dangerous striker had been brought down in the area.

A disappointed Patterson was unhappy with the decisions.

"We should have won," he said. "We have been robbed as I thought he (McNiven) was onside. I stand to be corrected when I see the video but as far as I saw it the flick on was perfect and the run perfect and it should have been 3-2.

"The penalty decision did not go our way. The lads worked their hearts outand battled as hard as they can."

Leigh, who began the match with just one point from six games, looked to be heading for another defeat as Conference newcomers Aldershot took a ninth minute lead when Jon Challinor picked the ball up just outside the area and raced past two defenders before tucking the ball under the keeper.

RMI responded well and levelled in the 23rd minute when a cross was volleyed over the keeper by McNiven for his seventh strike of the season.

The Railwaymen went ahead with another sensational strike from McNiven, who collected Wayne Maden's pass on the edge of the box, before he turned and smacked the ball into the top corner of the net.

Leigh could have wrapped up the three points but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty after McNiven looked to have been brought down by the keeper in the box.

To compound matters Aldershot's 63rd minute equaliser came soon after when Tim Sills outjumped the defence to head home John Nutter's curling free-kickfor his seventh strike of the season.

RMI's disappointment was compounded when McNiven was denied a brilliant hat-trick. He saw the keeper off his line and lobbed the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards out only to be adjudged offside by the linesman.

Tuesday night's Conference game with Shrewsbury has been postponed until Tuesday November 18 because of the call-up to the Wales U21 international side of Town's Dave Edwards, their third player on international duty.