Leigh RMI 1

Hucknall Town 0 STEVE Waywell launched a scathing attack on RMI's missing fans after his side eliminated UniBond Premier League outfit Hucknall Town in the FA Umbro Trophy third round.

He said: "Leigh RMI is, and always has been, a town team, but with such a low attendance today for non-league's premier competition, I am disgusted.

"It almost makes me want to leave the game. The people who do support us week in, week out are nothing short of fantastic, but the atmosphere and money generated through Hilton Park is simply not good enough.

"I'm sure the players and the chairmen agree on that."

The attendance of 235 was the lowest in the 32 games in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Waywell said: " I love the club, and that is why I have built it up over the past years.

"But if a Nationwide Conference club cannot have 200 supporters at a home match in a leading knockout competition then there is something wrong, and I would seriously consider an offer from another club if one was forthcoming." The reaction of the Leigh boss overshadowed a gritty performance from the hosts who should have wrapped up victory a long time before it was settled by Nicky Spooner's drive deep into injury time.

However, it was the unquestionable heroics of veteran goalkeeper Dave McCarthy that kept the Nottinghamshire side in it for the duration.

He could well have been the villain in the 18th minute when he may well have been sent off for a foul on Steve Jones.

Having sliced his clearance twice, Jones looked set to capitalise on the error to open the scoring, but was denied by an outstretched arm, yet the referee waved play on.

It was the end of Hucknall Town's period of good posession and Leigh took the initiative.

McCarthy made an excellent reaction save at the foot of the post to deny Neil Matthews and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, another one-handed stop was required to prevent Jones from opening the scoring.

Leigh were reduced to long range efforts in their attempt to avoid a Watnall Road replay, and it looked for all the world that the moribund finishing that saw 17 attempts on goal wasted, would need a second attempt to finish the tie. With seven minutes awarded for stoppages, it was the hosts who looked the most likely to score as they peppered the goal from all angles.

Good work on the right-hand side by the impressive Ian Monk allowed Spooner to drive his left-foooted shot past McCarthy for the winner --his first goal for the club.

Waywell said: "I think that Hucknall got exactly what they deserved because they played for the goalless draw and made no effort to be positive.

"We have pace and great ability in our squad, but I felt our opponents couldn't play football as it should be played, and we punished them for it. "

Leigh now face a tough fourth round tie at Conference big guns Hereford United on February 3.