Leigh RMI 1 Tamworth 1: FORMER Irish international goalkeeper Gary Kelly helped secure Leigh RMI a valuable point with a string of fine saves to deny Tamworth victory.

Mark Patterson's fielded five players making their home debuts -- and his new look side performed well in the first half -- going one goal up before the break through Steve Redmond's 38th minute header.

The tide turned in the second half after Tamworth made two decisive substitutions, which caused RMI's defence a whole range of problems.

And the Conference strugglers got themselves back into the game in the 73rd minute after RMI's Paul Shepherd was given his marching orders for deliberate handball -- substitute Scott Rickards despatched his penalty past Kelly.

But Tamworth were denied all three points through inspired goalkeeping from Kelly who had a busy first game for RMI.

A relieved Mark Patterson said: "They changed it at half time and put one or two big lads up front and launched everything at us and we found it hard to get out of our half.

"It was naive defending for the penalty. Defenders are there to defend. That ball should have been out of the ground. That is a lack of mental strength and not being switched on.

"Kelly had a very busy afternoon. He didn't have anything to do in the first half but in the second half he showed his experience. His shot stopping and kicking was excellent."

Chances were scarce in a lacklustre first half, until Steve Redmond's opener in the 38th minute. Warren Peyton's deep cross from a corner had Tamworth's goalkeeper Phil Whitehead flapping and Redmond powered home a header from the far post.

RMI should have been two goals in front, but substitute Chris Downey, who replaced the injured Neil Robinson, spurned his best chance of the afternoon, headed over Phil Starbuck's cross.

Tamworth came out with more purpose with substitutes Scott Rickards, and later Tom Jordan making a real nuisance of themselves.

It was one way traffic as Tamworth beseiged RMI's goal and new boy Kelly kept the away side at bay -- until the 73rd minute after Paul Shepherd received his marching orders. Scott Rickards kept his cool to convert the spotkick.

Leigh RMI: Kelly, Shepherd, Durkin, Lancaster, Roscoe, Starbuck, Redmond, Peyton, Forrest, Robinson, McNiven. Substitutes: Monk, Maden, Downey, Hill, Coburn.

Attendance: 427.