Leigh RMI 0 Gravesend 0 by Martyn Hindley: TIME is fast disappearing for Leigh RMI after a frustrating afternoon at Hilton Park could only yield a goalless bore draw with fellow strugglers Gravesend.

The Railwaymen started their penultimate home game of the campaign with a promising three upfront formation despite dropping Neil Campbell to the bench.

And it almost reaped rich rewards early on when Andy Heald fired the ball into the danger zone only for Keith Scott to turn the ball over the crossbar.

They also went close on two occasions before the break. First Ged Courtney almost celebrated his recall with a goal, but the ball spun harmlessly away from the target, then Ian Monk hooked a shot agonisingly over the top of Paul Wilkinson's goal.

Gravesend could have won, had there been anyone in the centre to convert Liam Hatch's troublesome cross at the death.

RMI now face a demanding schedule of three games in six days, starting with Wednesday's Lancashire Marsden Trophy final against Kendal at Accrington's Crown Ground.

Conversely, the much maligned Campbell clambered off the bench and repeated the exercise to ensure RMI landed up with a goalless stalemate for the first time in the league this season.

Angered at the state of the pitch, Patterson vented his frustrations after the game.

"You don't expect it to be pretty at this stage in the season, particularly when you're playing on a rugby field", the manager said.

"It was scrappy and we didn't create very much but at the end of the day we've come away with a point and that's better than nothing.

"I've always said that 46 or 47 points will be enough to survive and as we've still got enough games to get them points we've got a chance."

At this stage in the season, what Patterson could do without is a demanding schedule of three games in six days but that's exactly what RMI face.

That sequence starts with Wednesday's Lancashire Marsden Trophy final against Kendal Town at Accrington's Crown Ground.