Leigh RMI 3 Woking 1 LEIGH RMI fought back from a goal behind for the second time in a week to record a much-needed home victory over Surrey side Woking.

Leigh were frighteningly off-form in the early stages of the game after winning just two of eight Conference matches at Hilton Park previously.

With the first real chance of the game, the visitors should have scored when the creative Jamie Pitman made a well-timed run down the right-hand side and provided a simple header for Warren Patmore, who nodded wide. Patmore is a quality striker. His physique is hardly trim but his skill is such that Rushden and Diamonds paid a three-figure sum to lure him away from Yeovil Town last summer, and in January he scored the goal that pushed Bolton Wanderers to the wire in the FA Cup.

His £40,000 transfer fee to his present club made it all the more mysterious how the Leigh defence failed to spot him for a second time when Nick Roddis crossed from the right channel and Patmore beat Westhead with a similar header from eight yards.

With Steve Waywell at Colwyn Bay to watch Saturday's FA Cup opponents Worksop Town, it was left to assistant Dave Miller to ring the changes and to the amazement of the crowd, he made a double substitution after just 26 minutes. Struggling duo Phil Salt and Marcus Hallows were replaced by Dino Maamria and Michael Twiss, and after a tactical reformation, the Railwaymen never looked back.

Maamria has already netted on five occasions this term and after working tirelessly on his introduction to events it was his effort that levelled matters.

Unmarked

From Ian Monk's flair on the left-hand side, the ex-Southport striker found himself unmarked to head past Tony Tucker from eight yards. It was just the boost that Leigh needed five minutes before the break, and their performance after it exuded confidence.

Neil Fisher attempted an exquisite drive from distance only to be denied by the outstretched palm of Tucker, yet the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny RMI 60 seconds later. Fisher was in the thick of the action once more, finding Michael Twiss with his back to goal on the edge of the six yard box. The exciting young striker didn't fail to disappoint as he controlled the ball beautifully on his chest and hammered home an unstoppable volley from point-blank range to hand Leigh the lead.

It was a lead that they fully deserved and Twiss cemented the three points with just eight minutes to go. Tony Black's persistence in midfield allowed Twiss to grab possession on the edge of the penalty area, and the former Manchester United youngster slammed home the clincher left-footed.

Fisher's clever free-kick almost played in Black late on, but the 3-1 scoreline accurately reflected the run of play in the match and handed the hosts plenty of much-needed confidence ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final qualifier with Worksop Town. Kick-off at Hilton Park is 3pm with the winner claiming a place in the First Round Proper and winning a place in the hat along with Second and Third Division sides.

RMI: Westhead, Spooner (Scott 67), German, Durkin, Farrell, Salt (Maamria 26), Monk, Fisher, Hallows (Twiss 26), Kielty, Black. Subs unused: Swan, Heald. Attendance: 425. Booked: Black (45 mins, foul).