Leigh RMI 1 Tamworth 1 by David Magilton: WHAT would Mark Patterson give for a big striker to add another dimension to his attack?

The Leigh manager saw his side pinned back by a second-half onslaught from Tamworth but his lack of attacking options only compounded the problem.

Fortunately Leigh somehow managed to hang on to salvage their first point in four games, but despite wholesale changes to the team, Patterson has still not got it right.

Newly promoted to the Conference, and with only one win to their credit this season, Tamworth produced a superb second-half display that had Leigh rocking, and only an agile performance from veteran goalkeeper Gary Kelly kept RMI in the game.

The former Ireland 'keeper had little to do in the first half of his debut, but when the Lambs reorganised at the break and pushed more players forward, the Railwaymen's defence, and Kelly in particular, were called to account.

Patterson, frustrated in his search to find a quality striker, admitted that the lack of a target man had put his defence under pressure.

"As the first-half went on we improved but they changed it at half-time and put one or two big lads up front and launched everything at us. We found it hard to get out of our half," he said.

"They could easily have come away with all three points, particularly after we went down to 10 men, but they had the option of putting a big man up front and that is an option I am still looking for. I want to get myself a big forward. If you are finding it difficult to get the ball to feet, a big man can give you a breather."

After a lacklustre start by both teams Leigh broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Steve Redmond raced in unopposed at the far post to head home after goalkeeper Phil Whitehead had misjudged Warren Peyton's deep corner.

The second-half saw a dramatic transformation by the Lambs. The introduction of Scott Rickards and centre-half Tom Jordon caused Leigh's defence all kinds of problems, but they held out until Paul Shepherd handled the ball in the area in the 73rd minute.

His actions earned the full-back a red card and Rickards made no mistake from the penalty spot. Tamworth continued to apply all the pressure but Leigh held out.

Patterson was scathing of his defence, however, saying: "I am sick of saying it to people but it was nave defending for the penalty. That ball should have been out of the ground. That is a lack of mental strength and not being switched on. Indecisive defending has cost us three points and a man sent off."