LEIGH RMI extended their unbeaten run to 10 games when they won 3-2 at Billingham Synthonia in the FA Cup second qualifying round replay.

They now face Marine at Hilton Park on Saturday week but that fixture looked bleak as the Synners bombarded the Leigh goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Only a superb goalkeeping display by Dave Felgate and poor finishing by the home side kept the Railwaymen's hopes alive before they took an unexpected lead three minutes before the break.

Graham Leishman fired home from close range after a MIck Wallace corner had caused a goalmouth melee.

Billingham equalised 20 minutes after the interval through a hotly disputed penalty. Chris Bermingham was adjudged to have charged down a free kick with his hands and, although Felgate parried Andy Fletcher's spot kick, the big striker followed up to level.

Two goals in two minutes then put Leigh in the driving seat. Chris Shaw rifled in off the bar from 25 yards before Kevin Booth headed another Wallace corner back into the danger area for Keith Evans to score.

But Billingham pulled one back with a Sean O'Brien header in the 72nd minute that set up a grandstand finish.

It was a backs-to-the-wall battle for Leigh who had central defenders Mark Schofield and Graham Hill carried off after 30 minutes.

"It was a tough battle which got harder when we lost the two big lads at the back but Paul Wheeler was tremendous as a makeshift centre half and Dave Felgate kept us in it with several vital one-on-one saves," said manager Steve Waywell.

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