Leigh RMI 2, Scarborough 0

THIRD in the table and three wins inside a week. No wonder the Nationwide Conference new boys are still pinching themselves.

Successive victories over Southport, Kettering and now Scarborough have seen RMI rocket from 16th spot to within three points of leaders Rushden and Diamonds.

Steady improvement from Day One has been RMI's trademark. They've come on 100 per cent since that opening Hilton Park defeat by Dagenham.

Scarborough were the latest side to discover that RMI might not be the Conference easy-beats most pundits predicted. Their three scalps in the past week show that.

The cash-strapped Seasiders were sent back to the East Coast with their tails between their legs as RMI dominated 80 per cent of the 90 minutes.

"We are playing with some confidence now, and it's starting to show. I'm sure that if we maintain our discipline and our shape, we'll make an impact."

They certainly made an impact on Southport who, if they thought Leigh would be easy pickings, were sadly mistaken.

Scarborough were shaken by Leigh's early bombardment and their defensive marking was all over the place when Black's long cross found Ged Kielty at the far edge of the penalty area. Kielty knocked it back in, Cumiskey won his header and Dave Ridings stole in unnoticed to plant a far post header beyond the keeper.

The only surprise at half time was that Leigh were just one goal to the good.

That was to change within 21 seconds of the start of the second period.

Black's pace up the left and deft footwork in the corner, gave him the chance to whip in a low cross that was only half cleared. Ricky Harris, lurking just inside the area, thumped a low drive into the bottom corner to double Leigh's lead.