Leigh RMI 3 Telford United 1 IT had been noted in midweek that manager Steve Waywell was like a batsman waiting for a third umpire's decision. Before getting the thumbs up to continue as Leigh manager, he was already half way back to the pavilion - convinced that he would not be in charge for Saturday's clash with Telford.

He celebrated his reprieve with a vital three points against the Shropshire side to boost RMI's battle for survival.

Leigh started the game in a cavalier fashion that begs the question of why they are in the Conference dog-fight in the first place. But their early attacking rhythm was halted after just 13 minutes when the players were forced to leave the field with Halifax referee Harrison injured.

Fourth goal

When the game re-started though, the Railwaymen grabbed the initiative as Tony Black scored his fourth goal in four games with a left-footed effort following good work on the right hand side by Ian Monk.

The attacking trio of Black, Maamria and Twiss was reaping great rewards for Leigh and with valuable midfield support from Dave Ridings and Ged Kielty they were looking difficult to break down against a side who occupied fifth place in the Conference before the start of the day's play.

Telford had little opportunity to display their own attacking prowess during the course of the afternoon but they scored themselves on the half hour mark when Smith forced his way past Neil Durkin and slotted a neat finish past Mark Westhead in the home goal.

In weeks gone by the terraces at Hilton Park have played host to almost eerie silence but with the confirmation of Waywell as manager, the support was there for all to see. The Telford equaliser was greeted with almost an unheard of succession of songs which immediately transformed headquarters into something of an atmospheric den. Spurred on by such vocal support, Leigh were back in front 10 minutes before the break when Monk slid the ball across the face of goal and after Twiss had flicked the ball on, Ridings hammered home into the empty net.

The unguarded goal also greeted the on-form Dino Maamria in first half stoppage time and the former Southport striker made no mistake in converting the third of the afternoon after Black had burst clear to present him with the chance.

Monk had already made one clearance off the line from Smith and had to repeat the feat to deny Albrighton in the second period to retain the two goal cushion. In United's next venture into the Leigh half of the field, substitute Jake Edwards saw his angled drive denied by Westhead's legs but it was Leigh who would steal the plaudits as they sought a fourth to kill the game.

Marcus Hallows and Maamria both went close but the home side were forced to settle with the three goals they had already accumulated to give them three precious points.

RMI moved up one place to eighteenth following the result, now two places above the relegation zone.