Leigh RMI vs. Harrogate Town preview

By Matt Lawton
February 8 2007

RMI face Harrogate Town for the fourth time this season on Saturday afternoon when the North Yorkshire outfit visit Hilton Park in the Conference North.

After Harrogate won the corresponding fixture at Wetherby Road earlier in the season, RMI gained ample revenge with a 2-1 victory at Hilton Park in the First Round of the FA Trophy, albeit in a replay after the sides drew 1-1 in the original tie.

Harrogate don't have particularly fond memories of Hilton Park having failed to ever gain a point in Leigh in the Conference North, with last season's game seeing RMI striker Chris Simm score arguably one of the greatest solo efforts ever scored by an RMI player in his side's 3-1 Boxing Day victory.

Although Harrogate are riding high in the Conference North, they fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat against third bottom Scarborough last weekend, while RMI at the same time managed to grab a point at league leaders Droylsden, the side Harrogate are trying to chase in an effort to win promotion to the Conference National come the end of this season.

The defensive options of RMI boss Stuart Humphreys have been boosted considerably this weekend with the return of defender Liam Coyne on loan from FC United of Manchester, with the enthusiastic defender hoping to push Mark Maddox and Gavin Lee-Ellison for a spot in the first team.

RMI's preparations were hampered in midweek when the scheduled game against Lancaster on Tuesday evening was called off barely five minutes before the kick off, although that late postponement means a little extra rest than planned for Humphreys' young side ahead of Saturday's vital encounter.