Boston United 2

By Mike Hulme Late strike earns the

Railwaymen a draw THE battle of the two Nationwide Conference new boys ended honours even but RMI will be the most disappointed side after needing a late Andy Mason goal to rescue a point.

It's not been a good week for the Hilton Park side whose carelessness in defence has cost them four points from their last two games.

They gifted Hednesford a draw on Tuesday and showed they had not learned their lesson by letting Boston off the hook on Saturday.

Leigh still need the killer instinct. They had Boston on the ropes in the first half hour, yet failed to put the game out of reach.

They carved out enough chances to win two games but still only lead 1-0 through a Rick Harris goal.

They threw Boston a lifeline when sloppy defending let the visitors in for an equaliser and just after half time they were left chasing the game when United went in front.

But it could all have been so different had RMI made the most of their first half openings.

They had a good shout for a penalty turned down in only the sixth minute when Steve Jones appeared to be upended by keeper Paul Bastock.

Time

It was only a matter of time before they finally took the lead. Ged Kielty's free kick was flicked on by Peter Cumiskey and Harris stole in at the far post to beat Bastock.

Tony Black headed over the top, Bastock saved well from RMI's top scorer and the keeper turned away Jones' goal-bound effort - all before Boston had mustered a shot on target.

But their first chance brought an equaliser. Tim Wooding's deep free kick found the head of Jim Dick who nodded back across the box for Paul Fewings to slam in a leveller.

If that wasn't bad enough United went in front for the first time this season just two minutes after half time.

Fewing's snap shot across the face of goal was pushed out by keeper Craig Dootson but only as far as Peter Costello who accepted the gift from six yards out.

Leigh became more frantic as time went on and both sides were guilty of some petty fouls that ended with five players' names going into the referee's notebook.

RMI hammered away for an equaliser but just when it seemed it would never come, up stepped substitute Andy Mason to rescue a point. Black's inch-perfect corner was buried into the far corner by Mason just three minutes after he'd replaced Cumiskey.

Leigh: Dootson, Scott, Farrell, Udall, Swan, Harris, Kielty, Ridings, Cumiskey, Black, Jones. Subs: Mason (for Cumiskey 72), German (for Harris 72), Durkin, Matthews, Felgate.

Attendance 1124.