Leigh RMI 1 Forest Green Rovers 0 by David Magilton

LEIGH RMI gave themselves a precious Conference lifeline when they pulled off a most unlikely victory after being under the cosh for most of the game.

The win was vital to RMI's survival hopes as they joined four other teams on 40 points, making the relegation fight one of the tightest for several seasons.

Leigh produced the battling qualities that manager Mark Patterson has tried to instill in them since he took over and their never-say-die attitude paid dividends when they snatched the three points off a side who have lost just once in 15 games.

Rovers dominated the game and midfield in particular, where the Railwaymen were always trying to pick up the scraps. The visitors produced most of the pressure and chances but the final touch deserted them.

Phil Salt was an inspiration in midfield, but with the strikeforce of Neil Campbell and Keith Scott failing to trouble a well-organised defence, it was left to Andy Heald to produce the killer punch. The versatile midfielder is one of RMI's most potent attacking weapons and his free-kicks posed his side's only real threat.

It was no surprise that it was his vicious 74th minute curling delivery from a free-kick that brought the goal. Martyn Lancaster flicked it home with his head for his first strike for the club.

It was Leigh's only real chance of the game but they took it happily leaving Rovers wondering what they had to do to score.

Goalkeeper Stuart Coburn had denied the dangerous Alex Meechan and Darren Foster by tipping their powerful shots over the bar, while in the final five minutes Darren Jones' header smacked against the crossbar and skipper Jon Richardson failed to direct the ball into an open goal.

It left RMI boss Patterson delighted his side's battling display had earned three precious points. "I said before the game that nothing mattered other than getting three points," he sated.

"It is very tight at the bottom so it was important we got three points against a team who are very difficult to play against.

"Overall we should have been beaten but the commitment of the players was tremendous.

"Forest Green have had some good results and are the form team at the moment so I am delighted to get a result. We got out of jail as they had three good chances in the last 10 minutes, but the workrate of the players has been magnificent and we deserve to create a little bit of luck for ourselves.