LEIGH RMI move into the top half of the Unibond Premiership after a thrilling 3-2 victory over in-form Guiseley at Hilton Park last night. All the goals came in the first half, with the Railwaymen's first two getting a little help from their friends.
Mick Wallace's quality free kick found Graham Hill, the replacement for Simon Turpin, who had been taken ill shortly before kick-off and Hill steered the ball home off a defender.
The Yorkshiremen capitalised on poor RMI defending when Simon Park ghosted into the box to meet a right wing cross to leave Dave Felgate helpless.
But RMI hit back straight away, when Dave Ridings's shot from the edge of the box, struck a defender before wrong footing Dickinson. Leigh extended their lead when Ridings scored the best goal of the night after exchanging passes with Neil Matthews before beating Dickinson. On the stroke of half time another defensive lapse allowed Park to score his second when he chipped Felgate.
"Although we scored three goals in the first half we played better football in the second, and had enough chances to have won it more comfortably," said RMI Manager Steve Waywell.
"We introduced a new combination at the back, with Graham Hill and Simon Kay and they needed time to settle in, but after the break we defended much better." A wonder goal in the last minute from Phil Hill gave Atherton LR a 1-0 North West Trains League Division One win over Ramsbottom United.
The former Daisy Hill player picked the ball up on the half way line as a corner from the visitors was cleared. Taking it out wide left to the touchline, he spotted the keeper off his line and chipped him from 30 yards.
LR director Brian Seddon commented: "It was a dour game, but Phil's winner was an absolutely brilliant goal. They battered us in the second half and missed chances, but our lads at the back played really well in keeping them out." Radcliffe Boro's Unifilla First Division Cup semi-final against Ashton United was postponed and will be played tomorrow night, with the first leg now being switched to Ashton.
Atherton Colls' Floodlit Trophy game against Clitheroe was postponed and the clubs will try again tonight. Colls manager Alan Lord said: "We have to try and stage the game again tonight, if not we must try at Clitheroe tomorrow night."
The Alder House club number is 01942 884649.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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