Leigh RMI 2

Hereford United 1 LEIGH RMI confirmed themselves as championship dark horses in the race for Division Three football next term, as they defeated ex-league club Hereford United and avenged their elimination from the FA Trophy.

That night it was gangling striker Rob Elmes who struck the decisive blow for the Bulls when he headed home a far post corner in the Fourth Round replay and at the same Hilton Park, he threatened to spoil the party once more, scoring the equaliser nine minutes into the second half.

John Shirley whipped in a menacing cross from the right-wing which Elmes crisply and clinically volleyed past Craig Dootson and into the bottom corner of the net. It was almost the first piece of action that the young shot-stopper had seen on his return to league football, an astounding six months after he was substituted against the same opposition after twisting his knee.

His replacement on that occasion, the long-serving Dave Felgate was ruled out after being rushed to hospital with with severe migrains, but was in the stand to witness a dramatic finale.

Deep into stoppage time, Dave Gardner floated a free-kick into the danger area, and with Scott Cooksey committed, Tony Black was able to knock the ball on into the danger zone and Dave Ridings slotting jubilantly into the empty net to record his 11th league goal of the campaign.

The decisive moment may have come late in the day for the Railwaymen, but what had preceeded it was not short on drama.

Leigh had taken the lead in bizarre circumstances in the 21st minute when Black and Cooksey collided on the penalty spot after a long ball from Iain Swan, and Ian Monk picked up the pieces to open the scoring.

Leigh also went close through a speculative Ridings free-kick but Hereford should have levelled before the break when Quiggin's 15-yard volley from Rogerson's corner was heroically diverted by Neil Durkin on the goal-line.

The flashpoint of the game came with little over a quarter of an hour remaining. Steve Jones was welcomed onto the field to a real hero's ovation after starring in England's 3-0 midweek thrashing of Holland in a semi-professional international, but was in the thick of an off-the-ball incident with Rodgerson. The latter was sent off for violent conduct and Leigh were able to clinch victory in stoppage time despite John Snape shaving the woodwork for the visitors.

Leigh handed a full league debut to Dave Gardner after the midfielder had signed from Salford City in January, and again saw a brief cameo from Troy Hayder - a new signing from Winsford United. The victory extends the run of unbeaten games in the league to eight, and within touching distance of Rushden and Diamonds at the top of the Conference tree.

RMI: Dootson, Spooner, Trees (German 80), Durkin, Farrell, Swan (Hayder 84), Monk (Jones 63), Ridings, Kielty, Black, Gardner. Subs not used: Mason, O'Connor. Booked: Kielty, Jones. Attendance: 503.