Morecambe 1 Leigh RMI 2

LEIGH wrapped up their a succerssful first season in the Conference with a win that ensured a superb fifth spot finish by Martyn Hindley

They seem to have perfected the art of resurrection from the dead and performed one last Houdini act to ensure the double over Morecambe in just over a week.

. Still needing a point to qualify for the LDV Vans Trophy next season, Leigh were never going to sit back in this tie, and contributed to a first half of attacking football. Like at Hilton Park nine days ago though, it was Morecambe who edged proceedings early on and through Ryan Zico-Black's long range effort and Robbie Talbot's laboured attempt,the Shrimps could have taken the lead. Back came the Railwaymen , who could easily have broken the deadlock themselves when the impressive Troy Hayder dragged his left-foot shot wide of the target and Steve Jones failed to test Andy Banks with his header from twelve yards out. Despite this flurry of goalmouth action, it was no travesty that Morecambe took the lead nine minutes prior to the break. Andy Fensome and Adriano Rigoglioso showed some delightful flair on the right-hand side for Robbie Talbot to scoop the opener - his fifth this season against Steve Waywell's men. Leigh, who have overturned deficits in three other league games this season to steal victory, thought that they had equalised on the stroke of half-time when Banks was called upon to deny a bullet header from Dave Ridings, but the impressive midfielder gained his revenge with fifteen minutes remaining. After subtly beating Andy Lyons, the former Crewe Alexandra star unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard drive that nestled in the back of the net, only to occasion some over-zealous Leigh fans encroaching onto the playing area in celebration. Leigh defied their undoubted fatigue with one final onslaught two minutes later that secured a 'double' for RMI in the two league fixtures against the Christie Park outfit. Substitute Mick Morrell was clumsily upended by David Swanick and Steve Jones accepted the invitation to slot home his nineteenth of the season from the penalty spot. Morrell had replaced the workmanlike Troy Hayder, who had struck the underside of thecrossbar moments earlier when the goalkeeper was beaten and he seemed almost certain to equalise. The terrace celebrations were endless but RMI were not quite home and dry. Rigoglioso presented Morecambe's biggest threat, particularly through a rasping effort frrom outside the penalty area that had forced Felgate into an agile save, but amidst deserved elation, Leigh took the points on the final whistle.

Leigh's efforts during the course of the season have been nothing short of super-human and manager Steve Waywell was quick to underline that fact after the game: " Overall, I think our players and supporters have beeen nothing short of exceptional this year. We have had the odd bad patch like everyone this year, but our commitment has been 110% and we have played tremendously to surprise a lot of people. As for next season, it will be a new challenge. People will think that they know our game and can beat us but we willhave to carry on working hard and hopefully we can prove them wrong again. I'll be meeting the Chairman soon to discuss the forthcoming season and I will hopefully be looking to boost the squad yet further. "We deserved to win today, andfifth place is deserving of our hard work since August."

RMI: Felgate, Trees, German, Kielty, Farrell, Swan, Monk, Ridings, Hayder (Morrell 75), Black, Jones. Subs not used: Connelly, Lindsey, Harris, Dootson. Booked: Ridings (69 mins) foul Attendance: 1,106