Leigh RMI 0 Yeovil Town 1 by Martyn Hindley

LEIGH RMI completed their Hilton Park campaign in the same manner that it started - with disappointment both on and off the field.

The Glovers took a slender 1-0 win away from a game that had a distinct end of season feel to it but whether or not the crowd of 401 merited a game of football at such a high standard is debatable.

It is certain that with such a small gate during next season, the club will struggle to come to terms with the financial burdens placed upon it in the last year.

With both sides having nothing to play for apart from pride, issues such as the attendances were able to assume prominence during supporters' discussions. Despite that, though, it was an enjoyable first period in which both sides could have shared eight goals.

As it was, Francis Kumbar's powerful header on 13 minutes was enough to grab the points for the FA Trophy Finalists and stunt RMI's attempt for a place in the top half of the table.

Steve Waywell's men had never beaten Yeovil in their previous three attempts but having banished memories of past meetings from the mind, they started in positive fashion associated with the Railwaymen last year.

Ian Monk's first minute chip was close enough to the target to cause Chris Weale a touch of concern in the Glovers' goal and Marcus Hallows thought that he had scored four minutes later when his powerful volley came back off the crossbar. Michael Twiss saw an effort beaten away by Weale shortly after Town had grabbed the lead, but the game was far from all Leigh and Gary Johnson's visitors could have stretched their advantage despite having several key players missing from their starting eleven.

Kumbar's volley was cleared to safety by Mark Westhead, Kim Grant wasted a guilt-edged chance after being played into acres of space by Roy O'Brien and Grant also missed an earlier chance when he turned Lee Johnson's centre agonisingly to the wrong side of the post.

Opportunities

Leigh were missing Black and Maamria in attack but still managed to muster a number of opportunities - they just lacked in the killer instinct needed in front of goal if they were to battle back into contention. The closest they came to a leveller was 10 minutes before the change of ends when Heald was fouled on the edge of the penalty area but picked himself up to put a free kick in the danger zone that needed Tom White's intervention on the line to prevent parity being restored.

Heald has been a real find for Steve Waywell this season and if RMI manage to keep hold of this local talent before the start of the new season, he must almost be an automatic name on the team sheet come August.

Yet despite his best efforts and those of his team mates, Yeovil seemed more comfortable with their advantage as the minutes ticked away. Nick Crittenden was unable to punish Dave German's mistimed clearance as he fired straight at Westhead in the early stages of the second half and Olivier Brassart picked out the commanding shot-stopper soon afterwards. However, like the season, the game fizzled out to a rather anti-climatic conclusion, with the Railwaymen kicking themselves for a shocking home record that has proved the difference between mid-table and a place in the LDV Vans Trophy next season.

Leigh have lost just four from 17 games since being hammered 5-0 by Southport in January, and all of those have been on home soil. If Leigh are to magnetise the locals to the round ball sport, then that will have to improve next year.

Leigh: Westhead, Harrison, Spooner, Durkin, Swan, Kielty, Twiss, Heald, Monk (Spencer 90), Hallows (Archer 74). Subs unused: Farrell, Darbyshire, Connelly. Attendance: 401. Booked: Twiss (74 minutes, dissent), Harrison (48 mins, foul).

Leigh round off their season with a trip to Farnborough Town on Saturday.