THERE was no trick for Leigh RMI on Saturday only a treat -- a first round FA Cup Tie against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The moneymen of Division Two, Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley and all, will be the hosts when the Railwaymen visit the capital on the weekend of November 14.

They earned that right by beating Droylsden 2-1 on Saturday and then crowded around the television at 5.15pm waiting for their ball, number four, to come out.

"We were stood in the Droylsden boardroom and all the big local sides had been drawn out and I was just stunned to be drawn out against Fulham," said Chairman Chris Healey.

"We were obviously looking for a tie against Manchester City or one of the other big Lancashire clubs, but with the draw including the whole country instead of being regionalised it is a fantastic opportunity for us to be on the national map.

"It could be the starting point for us getting a good Leigh-based support. We took a lot of supporters to Droylsden and a trip to Fulham should capture the imagination."

The game, which could be played at any time over the weekend of November 14 and may well be televised, provides an ironic twist for Beardsley.

He played at Hilton Park during his short, unhappy spell at Bolton when he was banished to the Reserves during his conflict with boss Colin Todd.

RMI Manager Steve Waywell said: "There was a huge roar when we came out against Fulham, but I don't think the implications of a cup tie like that has sunk in yet.

"It is a tremendous draw for the town and I am particularly pleased for our Chairman Chris Healey, who has got his just rewards.

"We will go about our preparation in a professional manner and hope we can get a result, but we have games before the cup tie and the players will be going all out to impress and stake a claim for a place at Craven Cottage."

It is the third time the Club has reached this stage. In 1928 they lost at Scarborough and 15 years ago they were beaten at Bloomfield Road by Blackpool.

Neil Matthews put them on the way after only 12 minutes at the Butcher's Arms on Saturday. Eric Rostron won a corner when his 25-yard shot was deflected over and when Anthony Whealing's flag kick came in the Blood's defence couldn't clear and the unmarked Matthews made no mistake from six yards.

The home side suffered another blow in the 26th minute. Graham Hill was harshly adjudged to have pushed Wes Kinney, but goalkeeper Dave Felgate came to his side's rescue when he guessed right, diving to his left, to save Mick Jones' penalty.

Lee Cryer increased RMI's lead within a minute of the start of the second-half. Once again it was a Whealing corner that was flicked on at the near post by Hill, before Cryer forced the ball home despite Ashton's brave attempt to keep it out.

Droylsden pulled one back in the 66th minute. Cryer lost possession in his own half with Kinney finishing well into Felgate's bottom corner.

Waywell added: "I expected them to come at us when they got the goal, but apart from a super save from Felgate, we stepped up a gear and finished the stronger."

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