LEIGH RMI are fast getting back on track. They put the break on their shock slide with a midweek win at Frickley; then, on Saturday, they held their nerve to beat Whitby 2-1.

They began against Whitby in quickfire fashion with a goal after just 80 seconds. But how quickly fortunes change! By half-time the game was all square and RMI were down to 10 men.

Their response was commendable. A battling second-half display saw RMI earn three points with red card victim Eddie Turkington hardly missed.

It was the Altrincham player's second dismissal in successive Saturdays - hardly the way to impress when you are trying to make a loan deal permanent.

Struggling Whitby are still without a win this season and it was not too difficult to see why with their shaky defence having all kinds of problems containing the fleet-footed Leigh forwards.

Ian Monk was the key to victory, creating the first goal and scoring the second. He scooted round two defenders before teeing the ball up for Tony Black to whip a shot into the back of the net.

The winner came on 50 minutes, a brilliant effort from the winger who took the ball on the half-way line, raced past a defender, rounded the keeper and side-footed it home.

That was just reward for Leigh who had by far the better of the efforts, only to be denied with good saves by Stuart Davidson and on one occasion when Black chipped the keeper only to see the ball run tantalisingly wide of the target.

Dave Felgate failed to take a cross for the Whitby goal, and, although Steve West's shot was blocked on the line, the ball rebounded to Andrew Banks who needed no second chance.

That midweek 4-2 win against Frickley was very welcome.

They swept to a quickfire lead through Black and Neil Matthews.

But Frickley hit back, laying siege to the RMI goal and twice hitting the woodwork before goals from Black, his second, and Steve Jones wrapped it up.

Former RMI defender Mark Schofield, now with Marine, has been awarded a testimonial.

One of the first celebrations will be a dinner in the Mick Martyn Suite when the guest speaker will be ex-England striker Frank Worthington. Comedian Trevor Wallace will be on the bill and MC will be rugby coach Norman Turley.

Schofield is a community constable in Hindley and was recently featured on a TV documentary based on the Merseyside club. Tickets (£20) for the October 6 dinner from Hilton Park on 01942-743743.

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