Leigh RMI vs. Stalybridge Celtic preview

By Matt Lawton
January 19 2007

After last weekeend's FA Trophy game at Stevenage, RMI are back in league action this Saturday with Stalybridge Celtic making the short journey to Hilton Park.

The entertaining 3-1 defeat at Stevenage last weekend put paid to RMI's cup ambitions for the rest of the season, leaving them to concentrate on avoiding relegation to the Unibond Premier, and even an unlikely push for a Conference North play-off spot.

Visitors Stalybridge are in a similar position after a 3-1 defeat at Conference North rivals Kettering ended their FA Trophy interest on Tuesday evening, while they find themselves in eighteenth place in the league, a point behind RMI following a run of results that has seen them fail to win in the league since winning at Redditch early in December, with that run including a humiliating 7-3 home defeat to local rivals Hyde United.

Celtic's last visit to Hilton Park was almost seventeen months ago when a stoppage time Andy Roscoe free kick gave RMI a dramatic 2-1 victory, though Stalybridge certainly got their revenge with a resounding 6-1 victory in the January return fixture.

RMI centre back Mark Maddox is eligible to play in the encounter, despite his sending off at Stevenage last week, with his suspension to only include next weekend's trip to Alfreton, while Leigh boss Stuart Humphreys is likely to keep faith with the side that put up such an admirable performance at Stevenage last weekend.

Kick off is at 3pm with admission costing £10 for adults and £5 for students, OAP's and juniors.

Any Stalybridge fans that are planning to make the trip can do so via public transport, catching the train from Manchester Victoria to Atherton and catching the 582 bus service that runs past the ground, or catching the 26 bus service from Piccadilly Gardens that runs directly to Leigh bus station.

After the RMI support creating a terrific atmosphere at Stevenage, with their vocal support certainly spurring the players on to continue performing at such a high level, make yourselves heard again and shout the Leythers further up the league table!