Leigh RMI 2

Redditch United 1

A LATE penalty miss may have cost Redditch a share of the spoils but a draw at Leigh would hardly have been a fair reflection of this game.

Gary Whild's side only came to life in the final 15 minutes by which time the Lancashire side had cruised into a two-goal lead.

Striker Craig Wilding, star of the show during the festive fixtures, was out of sorts as he ploughed a lone furrow for much of the game. Midfielder Richard Field, United's third captain in as many games, was another to struggle while Danny Scheppel was undone time and time again by Leigh's tricky winger Chris Williams.

All in all this was a poor game between two poor sides.

Leigh, who play at the foreboding Hilton Park home of the town's rugby league side, scored twice before the break through midfielder Scott Willis.

He opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a well-struck free-kick that flew into the bottom right corner despite the attempts of Reds keeper Nathan Vaughan whose touch failed to keep the ball out.

The visitors had plenty of early possession but rarely troubled Leigh keeper John Lamb with the exception of a Simon Hollis effort on the half-hour.

Willis doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time, lobbing the keeper from 20-yards after the Redditch defence failed to close him down.

And there was nearly a third for the Lancashire side moments later when a deflected Simm shot was blocked by the keeper's legs.

Whild made a half-time change with defender Mark Creighton being replaced by Mark Taylor as the Reds switched to a three-man defence. And this almost paid off inside 20 seconds when Daire Doyle broke clear only to fire his shot straight at the keeper.

Leigh seemed content to sit back on their lead and with towering central defender Liam Coyne outstanding at the back, there appeared to be no way through.

But Reds were thrown a lifeline with 15 minutes remaining. Asa Charlton lofted a high ball into the area and Hollis slotted home from the far side of the area.

The visitors continued to search for an equaliser and Hollis almost found the net two minutes from time but keeper Lamb was up to the task.

But there was still time for one final piece of drama when Wilding went down under pressure from Leigh defender Tony Dunne. The former Stafford striker picked himself up to take the penalty only for Lamb to deny him, the RMI keeper then quickly recovering to block Paul Moore's rebound.

Boss Whild said: "When you have an opportunity late on to get something out of the game and don't take it then it is disappointing for everyone.

"I thought the first half was the poorest we have played since I took charge and we quite deservedly came in behind.

"In the second half we did a lot better, changed things around a bit and could have got something out of the game," he added.

Leigh: Lamb, Murray (Settle 53), Roscoe, Stoker, Coyne, Dunne, Harris, Willis (Drew 83), Simm, Patterson (Smith 73), HWILLIAMS. Subs (not used): Brockely, Mann.

Reds: Vaughan 6, Scheppel 4, HCHARLTON 7, Creighton 6 (Taylor 46, 6), Dann 6, Field 5, Hollis 7, King 7 (McGrath 65, 5), Wilding 5, Doyle 6 (Moore 55, 6), Whitcombe 6. Subs (not used): Palmer, Cornelius.

Ref: Mr CL Pawson (Sheffield). Att: 178