Leigh RMI v. Dagenham & Redbridge preview

By Matt Lawton
April 18 2005

Hilton Park bids an emotional farewell to Conference football tomorrow night (for at least a season anyway!) against the side that it all began against nearly five years ago.

It all began almost five years ago when Dagenham visited Hilton Park on a sunny post-Euro 2000 August afternoon, themselves newly-promoted in to the Conference and they made their way back to Essex with all three points after a 2-1 victory over Steve Waywell's side. It didn't start particularly, but that season was one of the most memorable, and undoubtedly successful, of the club's history as they turned the odds upside down to finish fifth in the league and claim a spot in the following season's LDV Vans Trophy.

A lot has changed since then, and there have been plenty of up's and down's, culminating in a miserable two-season spell that has seen RMI struggle at the foot of the Conference in front of sparse crowds, resulting in the club's relegation earlier this month.

RMI boss Steve Bleasdale, Leigh's third manager of the season, is still likely to be without midfield lynchpin Gareth Stoker, who's ankle injury is taking longer than expected to clear up, although he is boosted by the return of Andy Roscoe after he was suspended for a mammoth six games.

Visitors Dagenham are now out of the race for the play-offs and will therefore be looking to experiment with their side, with one eye of next season's Conference campaign.