LEIGH RMI 0 MATLOCK TOWN 2 ANY hopes Leigh had of a good run in the Umbro FA Trophy were quickly dashed by an Imre Varadi-inspired Matlock.

The former Everton and Manchester City star was only appointed manager last week but his influence enabled the Premier Division outfit to end their miserable run of just one win in 16 matches.

It did little to help Leigh's plight either. Confidence of the struggling Hilton Park outfit must be at rock bottom after bowing out of two cup competitions in four days.

They never put the Matlock defence under sustained pressure with midfield creating too few chances for their strikers. Chris Shaw had one excellent opportunity in the 34th minute, however, when a lovely move saw Paul Kirkham put him in the clear only for his shot to hit the upright.

Matlock's dominance grew as the game wore on but it needed an element of luck to break Leigh's defence in the 36th minute. The ball was only cleared to the edge of the box where Paul Burton blasted in a shot which took a wicked deflection past the stranded keeper Michael Allison.

Nick Tilly hit the woodwork with a long range effort before livewire striker Caine Cheetham scored the second in the 79th minute when Michael Charlton misjudged Jamie Evans' pass.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.