Leigh RMI 0 Doncaster 2 - THE difference between professional and semi-pro sides was illustrated in clinical fashion last night as Leigh RMI's Rovers hoodoo continued.

The Yorkshire side have always been a problem side for Steve Waywell's side but that looked set to change with just six minutes remaining with the scores deadlocked at 0-0.

The South Yorkshire side's fitness proved the key, although it took a wild and reckless challenge to offer them the three points. Wayne Maden committed hari-kari in the 18- yard box with a crude upending of Justin Jackson and his strike partner Paul Barnes took the responsibility of crashing the ball past Stuart Coburn.

Jackson's own sweetly timed effort from distance in stoppage time sealed the points in a much more comprehensive manner than the pattern of the game suggested they might, as Leigh wasted their superior possession by failing to produce enough chances to take the game.

Ironically, the best chance of the match had already fallen to the hosts. In the first half, Neil Durkin's hit and hope released Dino Maamria who motored on irrespective of the linesman's flag that was anticipated by the Donny defence, only to be foiled by Andy Warrington in the visitors' goal.

Leigh had never beaten the ex-League side in four former meetings and never really threatened to on this occasion. Both Kevin Sandwith and Gareth Owen struck an upright as their side were frustrated by Waywell's men. With Kielty pulling the strings in the centre of the park for RMI, it seemed conceivable that a positive result would have been possible.

It wasn't to be for the Hilton Park outfit, but as much as Doncaser posed a real threat to Leigh, bosses at the cash-strapped club will be wishing they could play Rovers every week: a travelling contingent of around 600 bolstered the attendance towards the four-figure mark, but the Leigh support will just not be good enough if financial survival is to be guaranteed.