Margate 2 Leigh RMI 0: MARK Westhead made what could be a sloppy final contribution to his Leigh RMI career with an error-strewn performance as his side crashed out of the FA 'Umbro' Trophy at Hartsdown Park writes Martyn Hindley
The former Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper looks set to go to Barry Town in midweek and looked to have his mind elsewhere when he came off his line to punch thin air on 25 minutes and after the ball ricocheted off Neil Durkin, Ian O'Connell scored the goal that killed off RMI hopes.
It was only the second opportunity in a dull contest, but unfortunately for RMI the first Margate chance had found the net as well.
Ten minutes had passed when Terry McFlynn capitalised on Durkin's failure to clear the danger and poked the ball past the advancing Westhead. As far as riveting goalmouth action goes, the crowd had just about had their lot for the first 45 minutes, save for a stifled Leigh penalty appeal as a furious Dino Maamria claimed to have been upended by Paul Lamb.
Margate had used the wind to their advantage in the first half and Leigh sought to do the same in a desperate attempt to avoid elimination from a second cup competition in four days.
Within minutes of the restart, Michael Twiss had turned on a cross from Dave German and forced a superb one-handed stop from Charlie Mitten. The former Tottenham player also had his reflexes tested when Dave Ridings' header looked to have had him beaten two minutes later.
Leigh were undeniably predictable for the remainder of the half and created few more chances of note apart from a desperate header from Twiss that looped agonsingly off the top of the frame with the goalkeeper beaten.
Instead, it was the home side who looked to extent their lead and through Westhead's over-generous punching, they almost achieved it. His error of judgement midway through the second period almost enabled Porter to score but his shot was charged down by Neil Durkin.
Phil Collins could have put the game beyond all doubt shortly before time when he took the ball around the goalkeeper but lost his footing as he was about to pull the trigger.
And there ended another Leigh RMI cup campaign with defeat in the embryonic stages and they certainly looked to have missed defender Gerry Harrison who missed the game on doctor's advice after suffering concussion in a clash of heads at Accrington in midweek. He should return to the squad for Leigh's next game, a league visit to Hereford on Saturday.
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