A HUGE grin creased Dave Felgate's face.

He had just saved two penalties to earn Leigh RMI three points against promotion favourites Altrincham.

The veteran goalkeeper had plenty to smile about after he won a battle of mind games against two penalty takers.

"I just smiled and winked at them as they placed the ball," said the former Welsh international. "I think they got a bit twitchy.

"I also noticed which side of the area their other players were ready to follow up so it was a calculated guess."

Tony Black, on his debut, gave RMI the lead after Dave Ridings flicked on a Peter Smyth corner; then Mick Wallace's corner was cleared out to Smyth, who cracked in a 30-yard volley.

Felgate pulled off his first spot kick before the break. Then, soon after the re-start, Neil Matthews and Black combined for Ian Monk to head home.

Altrincham were handed a lifeline with an own goal; then they closed the gap to 3-2 before the second of Felgate's super saves in a grandstand finish.

"It is the second time in my career I have saved two penalties in a game," explained Felgate. "On that occasion I was playing for Lincoln against Oxford."

LEIGH RMI scored a thrilling 3-2 midweek victory against in-form Guiseley.

All the goals came in the first half - with RMI's first two getting a little help from their friends.

Wallace's quality free kick found Graham Hill, who steered the first off a defender.

The Yorkshire side hit back, but then Ridings' shot from the edge of the box struck a defender before wrong-footing the keeper for No 2. And they extended their lead when Ridings scored the best goal of the night after exchanging passes with Matthews.

Another defensive lapse allowed Guiseley in again.

"We played better football in the second half and had enough chances to have won it more comfortably," said manager Steve Waywell.

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