Hednesford Town 1 Leigh RMI 2

STEVE Waywell's Leigh RMI side are becoming quite distinguished in the art of late winners in recent weeks, and Steve Jones's continuation with an all-important 87th minute strike maintained their unbeaten start to the New Year.

Jones steered a right-foot shot past Gayle three minutes from time after Ged Kielty had driven a low cross fiercely across the face of the goal, yet the result that it brought about was a complete paradox of the run of play in the first hour at Keys Park.

Indeed, Leigh had to turn around a one-goal deficit that was inherited by some sloppy defending in the 31st minute.

Paul Bagshaw - whose 25 yard drive had earned the Pitmen their Hilton Park draw in September - floated a corner that was met by the head of Mick Norbury. Felgate foiled his powerful effort, but Neil Davis was on hand to slam the loose ball home. It was a deserved lead for Hednesford, who through Davis had gone close on two other occasions, in an otherwise placid first half.

The second half was much more entertaining, but the Staffordshire outfit still took the game to the visitors in the opening minutes of the half and never looked like a side that are struggling to maintain their status as a Conference side. The impressive Goodwin had a free run through the middle of the park before firing well over, and Bagshaw could only slide the ball wide of the target when he found himself free and with only Felgate to beat.

Felgate is still an imposing figure in the game, and in this, his 250th appearance, he probably thought that he would have less to deal with, but with Waywell changing his formation to revert to the traditional 4-4-2 in the 54th minute, the game gradually swung in Leigh's favour and the Pitmen were put under considerable pressure.

Tony Black, in his first game for seven weeks following a double-hernia operation, surprisingly played a full 90 minutes and although he had not regained full fitness, he was in the thick of the action when the Railwaymen drew level 21 minutes from time. Both Black and Ian Monk had efforts blocked by Sedgemore, and Kielty volleyed the loose ball on the turn past a bemused Gayle.

It must have felt like the same old story for Hednesford, who have not won a home fixture since September, and also for Kielty, for whom it was a third goal in three league games.

As Leigh closed in on victory, players were almost queueing up to chance their arm on hitting the target. But the great escape was only finalised three minutes from time by Jones' strike, but Hednesford could have even rescued a point in stoppage time, with Owen striking an upright with all 22 players packed into Felgate's goalmouth.

The Leigh fans went home jubilant though, and delighted Steve Waywell said:" We really love the support that we get away from home. It's great to see people travelling to watch Leigh RMI and the noise that they make is great. It really spurs us on.

"I was disappointed with our first half showing, and I told the lads that at half-time. Once that we started to play the ball on the floor like we are capable of doing, we controlled the game and the win puts us in a really good position now."

Leigh, in fact, go seventh in the Nationwide Conference, but have a 10-day break from league action before they face Kettering Town at Hilton Park on Tuesday week.

RMI: Felgate, Spooner, German (Harris 71), Durkin, Farrell, Swan (Trees 54), Monk, Ridings, Kielty, Black, Jones. Subs not used: Murphy, Critchley, Matthews. Booked:Jones (time-wasting) German (foul) Referee: Mr R Lewis (Shrewsbury)

Attendance: 804