NEW recruit Steve Jones added two goals to the cracker he scored in midweek to stretch Leigh RMI's dream start to a hat-trick of wins.

And Saturday's 3-1 romp against Gateshead opens a two point gap at the top of the Unibond League.

RMI, in their first home game of the season, were impressive against expected title contenders with ex-Bolton and Bury favourite Mark Patterson and new skipper Brian Butler forging a formidable midfield trio with Dave Ridings.

They took a stanglehold in the centre, and, with the trickery of 21-year-old winger Jones causing all sorts of problems, the visitors were always under the cosh.

A string of early chances went begging. Then, just when it looked as if RMI had missed the boat, they broke the deadlock, a Jones' cross met by the incoming Butler who slid the ball through the goalie's legs. Three minutes before the break Ian Monk skipped past two defenders before slipping the ball to Jones, who made no mistake.

Monk and Jones were both involved again in the third goal, Monk's looping cross being headed down by Ridings for Jones to crack the ball home.

Gateshead finally found the net and did cause RMI some late problems. But they rarely looked like adding to their tally.

LEIGH CE beat Sacred Heart 6-0 in the Conlons Challenge Cup Final with goals from Michael Lee 3, Ben Brookes 2 and hotshot Stewart Newton.

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