Leigh RMI 0, Doncaster Rovers 1
STEVE Waywell's demand for RMI to forget their glamour FA Cup tie against Millwall and focus on securing their future in the Nationwide Conference seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
The Railwaymen looked to have other things on their minds and were well below their best as they tamely surrendered a nine-match unbeaten run.
That it took a 19th minute penalty to separate the sides will be of little consolation as both sides were locked in a sterile struggle in which clear cut chances were as rare as hen's teeth.
A sticky Hilton Park surface did nothing to help, with close control and passing a lottery.
But encouraged by a sizeable away following, Rovers did show more stomach for the fight, especially in the first half when Leigh were clearly playing second fiddle.
Rovers made their intentions clear from the off, forcing Leigh back onto the defensive. Kevin McIntyre forced Dave Felgate to make a low save in the first minute and as Doncaster turned the screw they forced five corners in the opening 11 minutes.
Carl Alford had a header wiped out for offside before Dave German had a rush of blood and conceded a penalty. Challenging McIntyre for a lofted pass, German needlessly threw out an elbow and gave referee Russell Booth little option but to award the spot kick that Jamie Patterson emphatically smashed home.
Leigh had hardly been able to launch an attack worthy of the name until Ricky Harris popped up in the area and saw his lobbed effort beat keeper Barry Richardson but be cleared off the line by Simon Marples.
Leigh's only other sight of goal came just before the break when Tony Black's goalbound half volley was brilliantly blocked by Rovers skipper Barry Miller.
RMI had much more of the play after the break but despite countless half chances, they couldn't find a leveller.
New signing Robert Trees saw one effort blocked and fall for Black but Richardson got down to save and within a few minutes Black slipped Miller but the Rovers stopper recovered well to deny RMI's top scorer a clean strike.
Even a change of formation with Neil Matthews added to make a three-man front line didn't bring a change of fortune. Matthews headed wide from Ian Monk's inviting cross and he was guilty again when German's free kick found himself unmarked just six yards out.
But it was Rovers who went closest to changing the scoreline when Tristram Whitman forced Felgate into a spectacular save late on.
Leigh: Felgate, Trees, German, Durkin, Farrell, Swan, Kielty, Ridings, Harris, Black, Jones. Subs: Monk (for Jones 56), Matthews (for Durkin 57), Morrell (for Harris 76), Critchley, Mason.
Leigh's FA Cup tie against Millwall has been switched from Hilton Park to the New Den and will take place on Sunday, November 19, kick off 1pm. Ticket details will be announced later this week.
Leigh are hoping to be in Nationwide Trophy action tomorrow night when they take on Northwich in a first round replay at Hilton Park, kick off 7.45pm. The match is in doubt because of the heavy rain.
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