Leigh RMI 2, Altrincham 2 THE old maxim "if it isn't broken don't mend it," certainly applies to Leigh RMI's draw with Altrincham at Hilton Park on Saturday.

With just 10 minutes remaining they were two up, playing quality football and seemed likely to go on and win by an even greater margin.

But the substitution of Eric Rostron and Martin James by defenders Terry Williams and Stuart Locke changed the shape of the side, denied them width and handed the initiative to the visitors.

They accepted it so gratefully that they equalised with two late goals and could easily have won it, although Paul France pulled off a spectacular goal-line clearance to deny Keith Evans a winner after he rounded goalkeeper Matt Dickins in the fourth minute of injury time.

"Giving two points away like we did is a kick in the teeth in terms of going into the Conference," said skipper Graham Hill.

"We tried to secure the game with five across the back, but we just invited pressure. The first goal had an element of good fortune about it but defenders have to hold their hands up for the second."

RMI, who were dealt a blow before kick off when it was revealed that leading scorer Chris Shaw will be out for the rest of the season with a broken leg, sustained in an accident at work, found themselves second best in the first half with the Robins record signing Keith Russell a constant threat.

But it was a completely different story after the break. RMI's midfield dominated and they took the lead on the hour. The much improved Lee Anderson provided a cross of such precision that George Shepherd had to wrestle Evans to the floor and Rostron took his tally to three in three from the penalty spot.

Another Anderson cross brought Lee's second in the 75th minute. Defender Mark Maddox could only head away as far as Lee Cryer at the corner of the box and the striker was turning away to celebrate before his spectacular volley beat Dickins and crashed into the top corner.

Anderson blotted his copy book and was lucky to receive just a caution when he elbowed Russell and from Stuart Terry's free kick, Maddox back-headed into the far corner.

A minute into injury time and the spring-heeled Russell outstripped the ponderous RMI defence to shoot across Dave Felgate for the equaliser, before France pulled off his miraculous clearance with the last kick.

The two dropped points prevented Leigh from moving up to third spot and adding even more spice to Saturday's home fixture against second placed Runcorn.

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