LEIGH RMI's skipper is at a loss to explain his side's costly extra-time giveaways writes David Magilton

Gareth Stoker was left shaking his head after Leigh equalised three times against Hereford on Saturday, only to be denied by an injury time goal.

Three valuable league points have now been squandered, as in their previous home encounter with Aldershot, Leigh contrived to leak in two goals after the 90 minute mark, and had to settle for a draw.

Heartbreaking stuff at the best of times, but especially for a side struggling near the bottom of the Conference, and one trying to establish itself after a summer of rebuilding.

"It is the same old story every week," said Stoker.

"We continuously create chances, but then shoot ourselves in the foot, and it is happening far too often. Every game people are not learning from their mistakes, so how can you build something?

"Some of the goals are basic schoolboy errors. It is a lack of concentration, lack of discipline and lack of mental toughness to stay with players to see it out to the end of the game.

"It is a personal battle with your opponent. He does not score no matter what. If he puts his head in, you put your head in with him.

"It is down to personnel. The preparation we do for games and the organisation the management put in is first class, but you can't do anything about individual errors. You can't legislate for them.

"We could be in the top half of the table, and that is no exaggeration. We could have won against Hereford, we should have won against Aldershot, and we should have had at least a draw at Morecambe, and Crawley Town.

"We need to cut out the errors, but the only way is by replacing players. If people continue to do the same thing and can't learn, or don't want to learn, then they should be replaced. But we have players with a lot of experience and this should not be happening."

Leigh do not confine their injury-time goal antics to conceding goals, but also to scoring them.

They salvaged a point in the 1-1 draw at York with a Barry Miller injury-time header, and Michael Byrne scored another last ditch effort at Accrington, but it only proved a consolation goal.

It all mounts up to five injury-time goals in their last four games and leaving early to beat the traffic is not recommended if you are an RMI fan.

Stoker added: "It is so frustrating. We are not going to get anywhere by keeping doing it. Points on the table are the most important thing. We can play rubbish but that doesn't bother me as long as we win -- it is all about results.

"The fact that we are part-time is difficult, but no excuse. We have a good, fit, bunch of lads. This is the first time I've been part-time in my career, but the pre-season we had here was as hard as I have seen in 15 years in the professional game.

"Maybe we are not physically or mentally tough enough. But it needs to be addressed."

It all mounts up to five injury-time goals in their last four games and leaving early to beat the traffic is not recommended if you are an RMI fan.

"But then you look at Burton Albion where I was sent off after five minutes. The lads battled it out, down to 10 men for the rest of the game, and Burton only had two or three shots. Where is the difference between the mental toughness there and what we showed against Hereford. It does not add up."

Catalogue of errors

by David Magilton

Leigh's late late show

Sept 11: Aldershot H 3-3. RMI led 3-1 when Jon Challinor cracked home a volley and less than 60 seconds later Aaron McLean equalised.

Sept 18: Accrington A 2-1. Michael Byrne grabbed 90th minute consolation goal.

Sept 21:York 1-1 A. Centre-half Barry Miller headed injury-time equaliser for Leigh.

Sept 25: Hereford 3-4. Substitute Adam Stansfield scored his second goal in injury-time after Steve Smith had equalised in the 88th minute.

Catalogue of errors

Sept 11: Aldershot H 3-3. RMI led 3-1 when Jon Challinor cracked home a volley and less than 60 seconds later Aaron McLean equalised.

Sept 18: Accrington A 2-1. Michael Byrne grabbed 90th minute consolation goal.

Sept 21:York 1-1 A. Centre-half Barry Miller headed injury-time equaliser for Leigh.

Sept 25: Hereford 3-4. Substitute Adam Stansfield scored his second goal in injury-time after Steve Smith had equalised in the 88th minute.