Leigh RMI 1 Northwich Vics 0 IN a Nationwide Variety Club Trophy first round tie that seemed doomed to never end, RMI finally earned a second round tie at Morecambe.

Weather conditions and more important ties had contrived to set the fixture back by an amazing 98 days since the 3-3 draw at the Drill Field in mid-October.

With Steve Jones in terrific form given the tricky conditions, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Northwich to progress.

In the first half, Jones displayed his jinking skills by skipping past four defenders before angling his effort well wide of the target, and another goalbound effort was deflected over the bar off the head of Anthony Henry.

Leigh threw everything at their Cheshire opponents after the turnaround in the hope that a deluge of goals similar to those on New Years Day would come their way. Yet the chances came and went in quick succession and an extra 30 minutes of extra-time seemed odds-on midway through the half.

Jones produced another weaving run before failing to control his drive and sending it careering over the target, while Mick Morrell warmed the hands of the crowd by rotating on Jones's centre and lobbing his shot goalbound only to watch Rigby sum up all his athleticism to deflect it behind for a corner.

Ged Kielty came off the substitutes' bench in the first game to transform the encounter with two goals in quick succession and with his entry into the replay 18 minutes from time, Leigh had new found creativity that conspired to construct the decisive goal. Good interplay between Andy Farrell and Kielty allowed the latter to side-step Rigby and slot the ball into the empty net under pressure from Mark Barnard.

Leigh RMI: Felgate, Spooner, German, Durkin, Farrell, Swan, Monk, Trees (Kielty 72), Morrell (Matthews 77), Harris, Jones. Subs not used: Ridings, Critchley, Murphy.

Leigh RMI's Lancashire Marsden Cup second round tie will be away at UniBond Premier League side Lancaster City at the Giant Axe next Tuesday while their Nationwide Conference clash with basement boys Kettering Town has been re-arranged for Tuesday, February 6, barring the need for an FA Trophy replay.