WORKINGTON 0 LEIGH RMI 4

LEIGH RMI overcame early jitters, demolishing a Workington side that faded badly, to set a table-topping crunch match at Hilton Park tomorrow night against leaders Radcliffe Borough.

Both clubs are on 81 points with two games to play but Boro have a superior goal difference.

Lincoln kept up the pressure in third place, one point adrift and one match to play at home to Whitley Bay next Saturday.

After tomorrow night's big clash, both clubs finish the season with home matches. Gretna visit Hilton Park, while Radcliffe entertain Matlock. "We've put ourselves right back in the frame and there should be a tremendous atmosphere at Hilton Park tomorrow. Over the last dozen games the people of the town have come out to support us home and away and the players have responded, but we still need their backing and tomorrow it could prove to be the difference between the two sides," explained Waywell.

RMI took their unbeaten run to 12 games with the victory at Workington but could so easily have been two goals behind before Martin James scored his third goal for Leigh in the 16th minute.

Keeper Dave Felgate was at full stretch to keep out headers from Lee Collins and Graham Caton before James met a Keith Evans right wing cross on the half volley and swept the ball into a corner. Another James shot brought a great save from Lee Copeland but Chris Shaw was on the spot to blast home the rebound for his 28th goal of the season.

The injured Copeland didn't appear for the second period but it was midway through the half that Leigh beat the stand-in keeper, Keith Glover.

Evans robbed Stuart Williamson and put Shaw away, he pulled the ball back into the path of sub Chris Bermingham, on for the injured Mark Schofield, and he slotted the ball into the empty net.

Two minutes later, Bermingham's low drive struck the foot of the post, Evans collected the rebound, before Rydings completed the scoring firing passed the helpless Glover.

"Mark Schofield's contribution was vital for us," said Waywell. "He played for an hour with a bad shoulder injury and it was only after he felt the games was won that he decided to come off."

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