Hayes 2 Leigh RMI 1: THE danger of a relegation battle at Leigh RMI reared its ugly head once more as Steve Waywell's men lost a citical game against potential candidates for the drop - Hayes.

The Railwaymen did the double over their Middlesex opposition last season, but have only taken a draw from the two games this term as they started the second half of the Nationwide Conference season in disastrous style. Hayes rooted the visitors firmly in their own half in the first 15 minutes and they should have taken the lead. Ian Hodges wasted a glorious chance to beat Mark Westhead in the third minute but he dragged his close range effort wide of the target and Ken Dyer thumped his shot straight at Iain Swan with the goal at his mercy.

Indeed, it was against the run of play that Leigh took the lead with their first attack of the match. Nicky Spooner found space down the right flank and after a superb cross, Dino Maamria was able to steer his header past the outstretched palms of Bertrand Bossu in the Hayes goal. Bossu was in top form minutes later when Maamria was bearing down on goal eight yards out and the French goalkeeper made a superb save with his legs.

Despite their superiority at the end of the first half, neither Leigh debutant Gerry Harrison nor Dave Ridings made much of an impact in midfield and RMI were forced into a substitution at the break when Westhead's groin strain forced him to make way for veteran Dave Felgate.

Felgate had been on the field less than five minutes when Hayes restored parity. Hodges netted from close range after escaping the attentions of Leigh defenders in the area and from Dyer's clever knockdown, he added a second shortly before the hour mark.

Leigh's response was not immediate but they should have equalised when substitute Tony Black swept his effort wide of the post with 10 minutes remaining. As it was, the visitors were the more likely to add a third towards the end with Paul Holsgrove striking the crossbar and Mark Molesley wasting a chance from point blank range.

It was the ninth time this season that Leigh have lost by the odd goal in three, and the third successive game in which it has happened. Defeat sees them just a point off the relegation zone, so they will be hoping to improve their abysmal home form when they take on third placed Margate this Saturday. Kick off at Hilton Park is at 3pm.