LEIGH RMI 1, ALTRINCHAM 2: In any sport, consistency is synonymous with success. The antidote to that is confusion that invariably leads to failure.

RMI entered three further players to their bedraggled squad in the FA Trophy and found that their only consistency is in crashing out of knockout tournaments to lower league opposition: Altrincham bagging a deserved win and the £4,000 prize money that accompanied it.

It's far too early to judge new signings Phil Doughty (on-loan from Blackpool), Daniel Douglas-Pringle and striker Michael Reed.

But to get a fair indication of the struggle they faced to gel with the existing members of the squad, it takes just one look at the chances they created. Leigh pressured the goal of former Hilton Park favourite Stuart Coburn only when it was too late and the tie had passed them by.

Reed did cap his debut with a simple back post tap-in to convert a knock down from Douglas-Pringle.

But by that stage, the game was into stoppage time and Alty's double-goal salvo late in the day had wrestled the advantage the way of the Robins.

The visitors only took the lead ten minutes from time and through a surprising source.

Eddie Hussin and Chris Adams combined well down the left before slipping the ball into the troublesome Colin Little on the edge of the area. He teed up defender Mark Maddox to drill decisively past James Mann.

Little's influence continued to corrode Leigh's potency. He had the ball in the net three minutes later only for a linesman to rule him offside from Gary Talbot's flick-on.

But Little was not to be denied and finalised the tie with deadly accuracy on 85 minutes.

RMI 'keeper James Mann was hurried into a rash clearance by Keiran Lugsden's pressure and Little sent it back with interest to embarrass the stricken shotstopper and make it 2-0.

Douglas-Pringle fluffed a chance to set up a grandstand finish immediately as he failed to connect with a ball whipped in from the left.

But the Conference side were counting the cost of an abject display that left Coburn a virtual bystander for the most part.

Chris Simm hooked ugly shots well wide either side of the break and Alty looked likelier to break the early deadlock.

Colin Potts should have done just that, but blasted across the face of goal after picking up a pass from Rod Thornley on the overlap.

Justice was eventually done, adding Altrincham's name to that of Southport (Lancashire Trophy) and Cambridge City (FA Cup) as sides from below the Conference to account for RMI in cup competitions this term.