Chorley 2 Leigh RMI 4 by Martyn Hindley

RMI produced a jittery performance against their local rivals Chorley in Tuesday's Marsden Lancashire Cup tie, but managed to stave off the UniBond First Division side after an improved second half showing at Victory Park.

The Railwaymen started brightly and opened the scoring after just four minutes following a swift move. Nicky Spooner and Dino Maamria linked up down the left hand side and after a simple ball into the penalty area, Ged Kielty hammered Leigh into the lead.

Their control of the tie was in question throughout the remainder of the first half as Chorley hit back in rapid style. Little more than seven minutes had been played when Andy Mason squeezed the ball in at the near post and Dave Felgate was picking the ball out of the net again midway through the first half when ex-Railwayman Mason headed home his second of the night from close range. Kielty hit the bar for the visitors soon after during his best performance of the season, but RMI's persistance was only to pay dividends early in the second half when three goals in 20 minutes killed off the tie.

Five minutes after the interval, Michael Twiss cut incisively down the left flank and created a simple opportunity for Maamria to level the scores.

Small deflection

Soon after, Maamria was on hand again to drill home from 12 yards and the game was sealed 20 minutes from time when Andy Heald dribbled exquisitely on the edge of the area and slotted coolly past a stranded Marsh with the aid of a small deflection.

Heald's recent performances have been enough to suggest a very promising future for the young ex-Morecambe star, and it was his display since coming on as a substitute four minutes after ther break that helped turn the game. Leigh now progress to the second round of the Marsden Cup after the win - a competition in which RMI are not noted for success, but it will give the club confidence after a number of recent blows both on and off the pitch have stunted progress at the club.

Leigh played against two old boys in Mason and David Eatock but they were unable to deny RMI a place in the next round, and the Railwaymen now have a 10 day break before travelling to Boston United on Saturday, November 24 in the Nationwide Conference.

With no fixture scheduled for Saturday, December 8, Leigh have brought their game with Margate at Hilton Park forward to that date. There will provisionally be no game therefore on Saturday, December 29.

RMI: Felgate, Spooner, German (Scott 83), Durkin, Swan (Hallows 73), Kielty, Monk, Thompson, Maamria, Twiss, Fisher.