Marine 1 Leigh RMI 1

LEIGH RMI left it late to salvage a point and extend their unbeaten league run to 10 games.

It needed an Eric Rostron penalty three minutes from time to ensure a share of the spoils in a game where chances were at at premium.

Rostron, back after a month's suspension, held his nerve to blast the spot kick past Kevin O'Brien.

But it was no more than RMI deserved and it was a test of their character after going behind with only three minutes on the clock.

Marine came into the game on the back of two impressive away wins and caught the Railwaymen cold.

The Leigh defence were still in the dressing room when Tony Rodwell's through ball fell behind Graham Hill and Mark Schofield and Jim Blackhurst capitalised on their hesitancy to fire well clear of Dave Felgate into the corner. The Mariners seemed content with that and relied on no-nonsense defending, especially from Andy Draper and Dave Richardson, who were helped by a Leigh side that pumped long balls up to the diminutive strikers.

In the second half the mid field looked better balanced with Ian Brady more involved. Rostron fired over from Draper's short back-pass and the industrious Mick Wallace hit the woodwork direct from a corner before he fired straight at O'Brien from just inside the box.

Although once again RMI showed their never-say-die attitude, it appeared to be a lost cause until Brady's lob into the box was controlled by Richardson's left hand and Rostron's blast from the spot was just reward.

"We gifted them a goal when our defence was caught square but to our credit we fought back well without creating a real chance," said boss Steve Waywell, who threw caution to the wind in the last 15 minutes giving a debut to winger Galvin Oldham in place of Hill.

"It was a tactical move that paid off for us and we have to be happy to come to Rossett Park and get a point from an in-form side", added Waywell.

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