LEIGH RMI always knew if they lost Paul Jones their Conference hopes would be dented.

But the inevitable blow came sooner than expected - with the result just as predictable.

Jones signed for Oldham Athletic, where he had been on trial for a fortnight, before RMI kicked off against lowly Colwyn Bay.

And he was sorely missed, RMI going down 2-1 to their first defeat in nine games and conceding more than one league goal at Hilton Park for the first time this season.

"We missed Jones," said coach Gerry Luczka. "But my main concern was we weren't creative enough up front. We lacked the cutting edge up."

RMI went ahead with a well made and taken goal in the seventh minute. Brian Butler and Tony Black whipped the ball down the right, before Brian Ross headed the cross beyond Richie Roberts.

There was an immediate reaction from Bay, and a warning for RMI, when Mark Limbert struck the post from the restart. But it was RMI's failure to deliver the killer blow that cost them.

The equaliser came on 75 minutes and the clincher came at the death.

RMI's disappointment was shared by by the Bradford City scout who arrived at Hilton Park to run the rule over Jones, but left before the game when he learned his quarry had already been captured.

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