Leigh RMI 2, Radcliffe Boro 2 THE UniBond Division One championship and promotion issues will go to the last matches on Saturday after Leigh RMI and Radcliffe Boro shared the points at Hilton Park last night.

It now means that Radcliffe still lead Leigh on goal difference, with both teams two points better off than third-placed Lincoln.

All three bring the curtain down this weekend with home games. Radcliffe take on Matlock, Leigh entertain Gretna, while Whitley Bay travel to Lincoln.

The Hilton Park atmosphere was electric as a crowd of 830 saw a thrilling first half when three out of the four goals scored were superbly created and brilliantly executed.

The second half failed to live up to what had gone on before with Boro certainly on top as far as pressure and possession was concerned without ever threatening to break the deadlock.

"It must have been fantastic to watch from the terraces but it wasn't so good from the bench," said a relieved Boro manager Kevin Glendon, who saw his side fall behind after only four minutes.

"I was proud of the way my players came back from that early shock. They worked their socks off to get their noses in front, but give Leigh credit because they are a good side and I just hope that both clubs make the premiership."

RMI manager Steve Waywell admitted that the second half belonged to Radcliffe.

"They put us under a lot of pressure without creating anything and the game became a stalemate with both sides cancelling each other out.

"We needed that second goal to kill them off after our early strike but it didn't come and then we conceded two goals in nine minutes but we then showed character to hit back on the stroke of half time," explained Waywell.

It was the first time that the Railwaymen had conceded more than one goal in a game in their 13-match unbeaten run.

They rocked Boro with a goal out of the top drawer after only four minutes. Chris Shaw played a reverse pass into the path of his striking partner Keith Evans, who out-paced the Radcliffe defence before shooting past Andy Johnson from the corner of the area for his 21st goal of the season.

Graham Hill then had two headers just off target from Martin James' free kicks before Ian Brady dribbled his way into a good position before curling a right foot shot well wide.

From the goal kick Boro levelled. Tony McDonald's pass beat the Leigh defence and Ian Lunt scored his 29th goal of the season from just inside the box.

Dave Bean grabbed Radcliffe's second in the 38th minute when he headed home Levi Edwards' s corner at the near post.

The best move of the game brought Leigh level three minutes before the break. Mick Wallace, Dave Rydings and then Brady all combined to put Evans away. He reached the dead ball line before pulling the ball back to James who made no mistake.

"Both clubs are quality sides and are well placed even if we have to use Saturday as a safety net. It would be great for the area if both clubs are promoted," added Waywell.

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