IT WAS inevitable the Big Guns of the UniBond Division One would take the championship into last Saturday's epic decider.

Leigh RMI and Radcliffe Boro shared the points at 2-2 in a midweek thriller.

And that left them both on 82 points, Boro having the edge in goal difference.

The Hilton Park atmosphere was electric as a Tuesday crowd of 830 saw a stirring first half with each goal superbly created and brilliantly executed.

"It must have been fantastic to watch from the terraces," said relieved Boro manager Kevin Glendon, who saw his side fall behind after only four minutes. "But it wasn't so good from the bench.

"I was proud of the way my players came back from that early shock. They worked their socks off to get their noses in front, but give Leigh credit - they are a good side and I just hope both clubs make the Premiership." RMI manager Steve Waywell admitted the second half belonged to Radcliffe.

He said: "They put us under a lot of pressure without creating anything and the game became a stalemate with both sides cancelling each other out.

"We needed a second goal to kill them off after our early strike."

Boro's double was the first time RMI had conceded more than one goal in a game in a 13-match unbeaten run.

They rocked Boro with a goal out of the top drawer after only four minutes. Chris Shaw played a reverse pass into the path of strike partner Keith Evans, who out-paced the defence before shooting past Andy Johnson from the corner of the area for his 21st goal of the season.

Graham Hill then had two headers just off target from Martin James' free kicks before Ian Brady dribbled his way into a good position before curling a shot well wide.

Boro levelled when Tony McDonald's pass beat the Leigh defence for Ian Lunt to score and Dave Bean put them ahead in the 38th minute when he headed home Levi Edwards' s corner at the near post.

The best move of the game brought Leigh level just before the break. Mick Wallace, Dave Rydings and then Brady all combined to put Evans away. He reached the dead ball line before pulling the ball back to James, who made no mistake.

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