LEIGH RMI boss Steve Waywell was forced into some half-time tinkering to keep his side at the top of the Unibond Premiership.

In a go-slow start, the Railwaymen had fallen behind to a ninth minute goal at Gateshead.

It had Waywell scratching his head in frustration. But interval adjustments with the system got them back on track for a 1-1 result.

"We started slowly and gave away a bad, early goal," he said. "But we stuck to our task well and their goalkeeper kept them in front.

"We changed from three central defenders to an attacking 4-2-4 shape after half-time and it paid off very early; in the end we had opportunities to have won it."

Gateshead took the lead when Mick Wallace was caught in possession. The cross came in from the right and Dave Felgate was beaten on the near post.

Brian Ross was then denied from point-blank range but could only watch in disbelief as Dave Ridings headed over then shot wide, both chances from good positions.

But six minutes after the break RMI were level. Ian Monk raided down the right before crossing for Ross to sweep home.

Late in the game the roles were reversed when Ross set up Monk but his shot was brilliantly stopped.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.