Leigh RMI 3, Northwich Vics 0

LEIGH RMI finished off the festive period with a thorough demolition of Northwich Victoria.

The biggest Nationwide Conference victory of the season for the Railwaymen was only secured late on, yet the dominant hosts looked by far the better team throughout.

Full-back Dave German had already tried his luck from long range when Leigh took the lead in the 13th minute. Mark Bailey and Jamie Bates made a hash of an attempted clearance during a goalmouth scramble, allowing the influential Dave Ridings to crash the ball into the roof of the net.

It was the perfect way to banish the memory of a poor day out at Dagenham less than 48 hours earlier, and confidence was considerably boosted as a result.

Ged Kielty - arguably the best player on the field for the entirity - slammed a loose ball over the bar to the consternation of the oncoming traffic on Atherleigh Way, while Dave Ridings directed a looping header across the face of goal and Mick Morrell's poor first touch denied himself a clear goalscoring opportunity.

With a mere one-goal cushion at the half-time interval, the recurring nightmare of being held to a point a la Woking and Chester reared its' ugly head . Nevertheless, it was put to sleep mid-way through the second half when midfielder Ridings completed his brace for his fourth in as many games. Kielty shrugged off the attentions of Wesley Simpson on the left-wing, pulled the ball back from the goal-line and Ridings drilled a low, hard drive past Lance Key.

It was nothing more than Steve Waywell's men deserved, and victory was compounded by Kielty's own contribution to the scoresheet on 76 minutes - his third of the season; all of which had come against the Drill Fielders. Monk found Kielty with a precise ball to the edge of the six-yard box, and the former Altrincham star kept his composure to slot home the third.

Northwich threw bodies forward in search of a consolation and went close through Mark Devlin's 20 yard effort, but the disheartened Victoria squad could not wait for the final whistle.

Leigh now face Scarborough at the McCain Stadium in Saturday's Nationwide Conference fixture, while they entertain Rossendale United in the Marsden Trophy next Tuesday evening. Kick-off is at 7:30pm. RMI: Felgate, Spooner (Critchley 87), German, Durkin, Farrell, Swan, Monk, Ridings (Harris 83), Morrell (Matthews 58), Kielty, Jones. Subs not used: Walker, Mason.

Referee: Mr G Brittain (Doncaster)

Attendance: 501