NETHERFIELD'S 1-0 home victory over Leigh RMI took them to the top of the UniBond first division...but they won't have a sterner test all season. For Leigh pushed them all the way, having the better of the first half despite conceding the only goal of the game and then completely dominating the second, bringing complimentary remarks from the opposition.

Joint manager Steve Waywell said: "I am sick of being told by other managers that we are the best team they have played but we have little to show from it and you just wonder when it will start to turn for us. "We deserved something out of the game although we lost but at least there are encouraging signs and we have to keep battling away and turn the chances into goals."

Chris Shaw missed two good openings early on and Chris Walmesley put a free header wide before Netherfield scored in the 36th minute.

Whitehead's free kick from the right found Burrow on a late run and he blasted past Allison.

The keeper saved well from Sang and Burrow again before the interval but then the Railwaymen took charge without getting the vital breakthrough. Debutant Paul Kirkham had appeals for a penalty turned down, Whitehead rattled his own bar and Mike Lewis had two clearcut chances in the last five minutes, one from close range, but the breakthrough that the RMI's efforts deserved was denied them by a combination of poor finishing and misfortune.

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