LEIGH RMI moved top of the Premiership after a battling 2-1 win at Hucknall Town.

It was a hard-fought and deserved win against a side with few frills.

"I was pleased with the way we adapted to the circumstances surrounding the game," said manager Steve Waywell , referring to Town's direct style of play.

"We are up there at the top to be shot at and I hope we have the character to stay there; we will have to be on our guard.

"I wish it was the last game of the season, instead of only a quarter-way through."

RMI went one behind in the 39th minute. The normally-reliable Paul Jones badly directed a header and the error was compounded by Stuart Locke's mis-kick, leaving Dave Felgate with no chance. But RMI were level five minutes later. Tony Black robbed a defender before rounding the goalkeeper to equalise 60 seconds from the break.

Five minutes into the second half they scored the winner.

Locke made up for his early mistake with a superb through ball to Brian Ross, who fired into the bottom corner.

Hucknall, who would also have gone top if they had won, pounded the Leigh goal in the later stages but RMI defended well in numbers to hold out.

ATHERTON COLLS picked up a precious First North Western Trains League Division One home point in a highly creditable 1-1 draw with Prescot Cables.

Top-rated strikers Peter Cumiskey and Billy O'Callaghan were kept in check superbly by Liam Bowden and MoM Lee Bowles, who also hit the target.

Atherton LR continue to improve but that elusive first win of the season has still to come. They went down 1-0 at top club Newcastle Town and are now eight points adrift at the bottom.

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