Leigh RMI vs. Barrow preview

By Matt Lawton
March 9 2007

After Tuesday night’s heartbreaking last-gasp defeat to Stalybridge Celtic, RMI are back on the trail of Conference North survival with a proverbial ‘six pointer’ against relegation rivals Barrow at Hilton Park on Saturday.

Despite holding a 1-0 lead for a large period of the second half after Kevin Rapley’s opener, a moment of madness from goalkeeper John Lamb saw him sent from the field and, with no goalkeeper on the bench, striker Chris Simm was forced to don the goalkeeper’s gloves for the remaining twenty minutes of an enthralling encounter.

Although he was beaten by the Lee Ellington penalty that resulted from Lamb’s sending off, Simm produced a heroic performance between the posts in true ‘Roy of the Rovers’ fashion, only for him to be beaten with an Ashley Winn wonder strike from the edge of the penalty area with the very last kick of the game.

Leigh boss Stuart Humphreys will be looking for several players to return to the side for Saturday afternoon after fielding a makeshift midfield in Tuesday’s defeat, with the absence of centre midfielder Steve Porter meaning that Ian Taylor had to play in the heart of the RMI engine room as opposed to his usual role on the left flank, while winger Steve Settle joined centre back Mark Maddox on the sidelines.

Although RMI currently have a five point cushion ahead of third bottom Scarborough, they will be looking to extend that gap with a victory against a Barrow side that have struggled throughout the season, although they eased their own relegation fears with a vital 1-0 win at plummeting Vauxhall Motors on Tuesday evening.

Kick off at Hilton Park on Saturday is 3pm, with admission costing £10 adults and £5 for concessions.