Leigh RMI 2-0 Margate by Martyn Hindley

LEIGH RMI had to call upon all of their battling persistence and resolve to claim three points from an uninspiring installment of Conference football against Margate at Hilton Park.

The Railwaymen recorded a clean sheet for the first time this season and after leaking more than the hull of the Titanic in recent weeks, the performances of messrs Maden, Harrison and Durkin at the back will be particularly pleasurable for Steve Waywell.

Indeed, question marks surrounded the ability of the defence to cope by the half-time break. Neil Fitzhenry started a three-match ban incurred by his red card at Dagenham, Nicky Spooner has been recently released to Radcliffe on loan and full-back Dominic Ludden hobbled off after just 25 minutes clutching a damaged hamstring.

But Margate's sole opportunity was a Jake Leberl header near the end that bobbled harmlessly off the top of the crossbar, and having created a couple of openings themselves, the hosts were always favourites to wrap up the points.

Andy Heald's wicked inswinging corner was headed back across the face of goal by Wayne Maden nine minutes before half-time and Ian Monk sneaked in on the edge of the six yard box to head hard and low past Phil Smith's outstretched right hand.

Maden is starting to show his value in both attack and defence now. He was unfortunate not to score himself in the previous attack when he found himself unmarked at the far post from Heald's free-kick but could only hit an upright with the goal at his mercy.

That persistence paid dividends for Dino Maamria as he put the icing on the Lancashire cake 20 minutes from time. Stuart Coburn's speculative long ball upfield caught the visiting defence in two minds, allowing the Tunisian to slide between them and slot the ball coolly into the unguarded net.

"He had no right to win that ball", said a jubilant Waywell afterwards. "But it just goes to prove the old footballing saying that there is no such thing as a lost cause. It might not have been a classic game but I think that we deserved the win because we defended very well and they didn't cause us any problems at all at the back."

RMI face a tough test tomorrow night when they meet Southport at Haig Avenue - a side who are unbeaten in the Nationwide Conference to date.