Leigh RMI 2 Runcorn 4

LEIGH RMI's FA Cup dream blew up in their faces when they handed Saturday's Fourth Qualifying Round tie on a plate to Runcorn.

A catalogue of defensive slips - the first inside just 60 seconds - ruined Leigh's hopes of a possible First Round Proper tie against Football League opposition.

They could not have made a worse start with Mick Wallace turning a low Runcorn cross wide of a stranded Dave Felgate for a first minute own goal.

"From that moment we were chasing the game. We had wanted to impose ourselves early on but that setback hit us hard and it took us a good 25 minutes to recover our composure," pointed out RMI manager Steve Waywell. Dave Ridings gave an indication of better things to come when he twice went close in quick succession. But when Paul Heavey picked up a misdirected Leigh pass, his blocked shot was tucked away for Runcorn's second by Chris Lee.

Felgate brilliantly saved from Heavey again just before the break but RMI's errors had virtually handed Runcorn the tie.

"You can't legislate for individuals making mistakes," complained Waywell. "Perhaps it was down to the occasion but certainly for the first hour or so we looked nervous and uncertain."

The tie looked all but over when Steve Carragher made it 3-0 just after the hour but that lit the touch-paper for RMI to produce a rip-roaring finish. They sparked the game back to life when Keith Evans drilled home a 73rd minute penalty after Graham Hill had been impeded in the area. Sensing a fightback, Leigh poured forward in droves with Hill relieved of his defensive duties to make a nuisance of himself up front.

Then the inevitable: Kevin Booth got caught in possession and Heavey went through to make it 4-1.

Hopes were revived 12 minutes from time when the elegant Ridings found the top corner with a swerving and dipping free kick from 25 yards out.

RMI threw everything they had at Runcorn in a frantic final 10 minutes.

Wallace, Evans, Ridings and Chris Bermingham all shaved the woodwork to send the crowd of 920 - a record for a soccer game at Hilton Park - home satisfied by the entertainment, if not the result.

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