Northwich Victoria 0, Leigh RMI 3 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH RMI continued their formidable resurgence of late with a commanding second-half show to see off the challenge of Northwich Victoria.
There may well be a case for saying that the 5-0 hammering at Southport three weeks ago have done Steve Waywell's side some good. Since, they have been unbeaten in the five games that they have played, scoring 16 goals in the process.
Furthermore, the clean sheet that they kept at the Drill Field on Saturday was their first in the league since September. Despite what was almost end-to-end football in the opening 45 minutes, neither side could break the deadlock.
Vics' first chance came after just 40 seconds when Craig Skinner - who had a spell at Leigh earlier this season - had a 12 yard shot deflected wide.
The Greens contributed notably to the first half entertainment and were later to be denied by the mud in the goalmouth when Jimmy Quinn's goalbound header looked to have beaten Mark Westhead.
The former Wycombe shotstopper was to make amends later in the half though when Mark Devlin's incisive back heel played in Greg Blundell and the keeper dived bravely to his right to deflect his effort away for a corner.
RMI were also causing their opponents consternation with a number of visits into the final third of the field and through Tony Black in particular should have taken the lead.
Black's creativity down the left flank almost allowed Dino Maamria to put RMI in front, but the alert Paul Gibson made a fine save, whilst efforts from Michael Twiss and Dave German both went inches over the bar.
Black put the Railwaymen in front soon after the change of ends when he raced onto a Ged Kielty through ball and drilled the ball low into the bottom corner.
It was nothing more than Steve Waywell's side deserved and their passage up to 16th position was confirmed 13 minutes later when Maamria's deflected effort looped over Gibson to double the advantage.
Maamria was deserving of the plaudits after a typically grafting display and he even had time to grab a second with six minutes to go. He took the ball coolly around Gibson and after teasing the covering defender on the line, hammered home to precipitate a mass exodus among the Northwich fans.
It was the Vics' biggest home defeat of the season. Leigh move three points closer to safety with the result but now have two weeks off from their Conference schedule as they go into Lancashire Cup action at Accrington on Wednesday and face the long trip to Margate for Saturday's FA Trophy clash.
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