"WE can still stay up and we won't give up until its mathematically impossible."

That's the message from Mark Patterson to ease the frustrations of the RMI faithful after the goal-less draw with Gravesend at a bumpy Hilton Park.

"It would just be nice to get away from the pitch", the manager added after a scrappy game produced few chances for either side but a clean sheet that could be priceless when the calculators come out at Kettering Town a week on Saturday.

Patterson's assessment of the surface couldn't have been more accurate. The match will be remembered for two crosses rather than goalmouth opportunities.

Substitute Neil Campbell's rocket into the danger zone narrowly evaded everybody in the Gravesend box and at the other end, Liam Hatch's demonic centre also flew across the face of goal before coming to no harm.

With Neil Fitzhenry back on defensive duties after deferring a hernia operation until the summer, Leigh looked a far more solid outfit at the back. By the manager's own admission, it didn't make for a pretty spectacle, but with only one save for Stuart Coburn to make in the first half, there will be few complaints about that.

Hatch could have grabbed an undeserved three points with three minutes to go when he slipped through the defensive net only to lob tamely onto the roof of the net with the goalkeeper to beat.

Leigh had earned the good fortune with their resilience and although results went against them elsewhere, they are still very much in the hunt for a Conference place next season.