RMI 1 Hereford 2 by David Magilton LEIGH were left licking their wounds after crashing out of a second cup competition in less than a week.
RMI had been hopeful of success in the prestigious FA Umbro Trophy but despite holding Hereford to a goalless draw in the first game never really looked like winning the replay.
A goal each from livewire strike pair Gavin Williams and Rob Elmes ensured that it was the Bulls who would compete in Saturday's fifth round tie at Morecambe.
Leigh produced a below par performance which manager Steve Waywell readily conceded.
"It is not going out that is so disappointing but the way we went out. We didn't put up much of a fight," he admitted. "We took the game to them for the first 15 minutes and had good chances which we didn't take. They got a grip in midfield where we didn't compete. Dave Ridings was on his own. Ged Kielty had a poor game and at the end of the day we can't afford to have players produce lacklustre performances like that.
"We lost because not all the players wanted it enough."
Another tough and bruising encounter saw defences on top before the visitors produced the killer punch that finally ended Leigh's brave resistance. Williams had been a constant thorn in the Leigh defence and it was only fitting that he should break the stalemate with a terrific finish in the 41st minute.
Elmes fed him the ball after Iain Swan's mis-timed clearance fell at the feet of the striker. Elmes could have grabbed a second a minute later when he thundered in a short range volley which the keeper did well to save.
The RMI strikers missed a couple of chances to get back on level terms and Hereford made them pay 11 minutes from time when Ian Rogerson's inswinging corner found Elmes unmarked at the far post and he nodded it home off the woodwork.
Leigh threw everything at United in the dying minutes and finally managed to unlock their defence three minutes from time when Tony Black raced onto Neil Durkin's lovely through ball and unleashed a rocket shot that gave the keeper no chance. But it was too little too late to worry Turner's side.
Leigh RMI: Felgate, Spooner, Murphy, Durkin, Farrell, Swan, Monk, Ridings, Kielty, Black, Jones. Subs: Morrell, Mason, Matthews, Critchley, Dootson. Att: 441.
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