DESPITE hitting the crossbar three times, Leigh RMI were taught a valuable in lesson in attacking football as rampant hosts Boston put Steve Bleasdale's men to the sword in clinical fashion, showing the type of form that had seen some mark them down as pre-season promotion candidates.

Fresh from the disappointment of conceding a last minute winner at Workington in midweek, the Railwaymen had another long journey to contend with as they visited Boston for the first time since the two sides were both last in the Conference more than five years ago.

A lot has happened since that game, with Boston going on to be promoted to the Football League that season, only to drop two levels at the end of last term after a combination of financial problems and poor results.

Both sides had early chances as Leigh goalkeeper Tim Dittmer was called upon to smartly save a headed corner before tricky RMI winger Mark Smyth struck the top of the Pilgrims crossbar, although his shot was more of a miscued cross than a deliberate attempt at goal.

After managing to hold out their opponents for the opening 26 minutes, RMI fell behind when a low cross from the left channel went across Dittmer's six yard box and was tapped in by Matt O'Halloran at the back post.

Smyth again came close shortly before the half hour mark when he managed to shrug off the attentions of some tight marking before attempting to lob the goalkeeper, only for the ex-Liverpool man to see his strike hit the crossbar for the second time in the game.

Dittmer was again called upon to make a terrific save in tipping a Jonathan Rowan header over the crossbar from point blank range, only for Rowan to gain apt revenge from the resultant corner, beating marker Lee Unsworth to the ball to thump a header past Dittmer and double his side's lead.

An injury to Richard Chetcuti forced a degree of reorganisation in the RMI ranks, with Smyth joining Kieran Lugsden in attack and substitute Neil Carroll playing in the centre of midfield, with Robin Gibson moving to the left hand side.

Just seven minutes of the second half had passed before Boston extended their lead to three goals; the ball seemingly crossing the touchline as the Pilgrims attacked down the right hand side, but as the RMI defence stopped to claim a throw in, the Boston attack continued, giving Rowan all the time in the world to convert a back post cross and claim his second of the afternoon.

What was a comfortable lead for the hosts went a long way to becoming a rout when Dittmer was picking the ball from out of his net for the fourth time of the afternoon with 18 minutes left when, having a produced a smart save from a free kick, Dittmer was beaten to the rebound by substitute Kieran Leabon who made no mistake in slotting home.

At four goals down, RMI suddenly started to have an impact on the game as first Andy Wright struck the crossbar with a somewhat miscued cross before substitute Scott Willis, making his first appearance after a lengthy injury lay off, crossed for Lugsden to head narrowly wide.

Leigh gained a degree of respectability with eight minutes left when Robin Gibson ended a determined run with a smart shot that beat Curtis Aspden at the near post, only for Boston to confirm their superiority when restoring their four goal lead just three minutes later when a lightning counter attack was finished superbly by Jon Froggatt.

The defeat leaves RMI rooted to the foot of the Blue Square North table and will be a massive dent to the confidence of the side ahead of the vital home game with Redditch United this Saturday.