Leigh RMI 0 Worcester 1

MARK Danks' early penalty was enough to separate the sides in a drab end-of-season encounter at a dismal Hilton Park.

Although last weekend's defeat at Gainsborough condemned RMI to UniBond Premier League football next season, Leigh boss Steve Bleasdale made few changes to the side that fought valiantly in that game.

On-loan striker Cayne Hanley was handed his first start for the club, joining Gavin Salmon in attack in the absence of the injured Richard Chetcuti.

After suffering a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Blyth Spartans seven days ago, mid-table Worcester appeared to be counting the days until the end of the season.

They did, however, take the lead on eight minutes when Robin Gibson needlessly gave away a penalty with a nudge in the back of a visiting forward when challenging for a header, Danks slotting home from the spot.

Leigh had been unlucky not to take the lead earlier when skipper Rob Marsh-Evans had a shot deflected narrowly wide after getting on the end of an Owen Roberts free kick.

Leigh's second half ambitions were dealt a blow within only a couple of minutes when Hanley landed awkwardly from an aerial challenge and was forced to withdraw from action, though it did give the chance to top scorer Mark Smyth to make his first appearance in several weeks after recovering from injury, while centre-back Matt Lawlor also made his return from injury later in the game when replacing Paul Booth.

The home side managed to force a succession of corners towards the end, but they failed to trouble Worcester goalkeeper Chris Sanna, leaving home manager Bleasdale to conduct a post-match inquest on the field for more than 10 minutes after the final whistle as their chronic lack of goalscoring saw them fail to score at Hilton Park for the fifth time this season.

RMI make the short trip to Southport tomorrow night.