Leigh RMI 3 Vics 0

Nationwide Conference

Monday, January 1

VICS took to the field with Mark Devlin as the only recognised midfield player and almost inevitably paid the penalty when opposition midfielders David Ridings and Ged Kielty stole the show.

It was Leigh who made all the early running when Dave German shot narrowly wide from 25 yards in the fourth minute. Five minutes later Gary Burke fouled Ian Monk wide on the right and Vics were relieved to see the ball fly to safety after Nicky Spooner's curling freekick eluded everybody. But it was just a sign of things to come.

In the 13th minute Burke was guilty of yet another clumsy tackle on Monk on the right flank. This time, when Vics defence failed to clear Spooner's kick, Ridings was on hand to crash the ball into the roof of the net from seven yards to give the home side the lead.

Vics' overworked defence conceded further free-kicks and corners as the home side dominated, while at the other end both Lee Poland and Adie Mike were largely ineffective.

Burke, who was having a torrid time, then put Key under pressure with a weak back pass and when Vics keeper's clearance ricocheted off Kielty across the box, Robertson was forced to hurriedly concede a corner. On the stroke of half time Vics finally gave Dave Felgate something to do, albeit a simple save from a weak Poland Header.

Keith Alexander sent out Ian Cooke in place of the beleagured Gary Burke after the break and changed to a 4-3-3 system in a bid to inject some much-needed fire power.

Cooke's presence certainly had the desired effect and when he flicked a Mark Bailey cross on to Poland, who hooked the ball toward the top corner of the net, Felgate was forced to tip the ball over the bar.

On the hour Alexander replaced the injured Steve Walsh with Mike Quigley and exchanged Darren Vicary for Poland. Devlin immediately slipped the ball to Vicary on the left hand side of the penalty area and Felgate was forced to block the out-of-favour winger's shot for a corner.

However Leigh were still causing Vics problems and their enterprise was finally rewarded in the 67th minute when Kielty cut the ball back into the box where Ridings was again on hand to hit a crisp shot hard and low into the bottom corner of the net.

To their credit, Vics stuck to their task and Vicary forced a save from Felgate and Neil Durkin to head over his own bar.

But Leigh responded immediately, and wrapped up the game in the 76th minute when Jones crossed for Kielty to beat Key from close range.

This will be one game that Vics will want to forget, while Leigh, whose use of two orthodox wingers makes a refreshing change in today's game, were good value for their win.

With the excitement of the FA Cup now just a memory, Keith Alexander will doubtless be spending the coming weeks trying to strengthen a squad whose frailties were exposed today by the absence of two or three key players.

Vics: Key, Bailey, Ellis, Davis, Robertson, Burke (Cooke 45), Walsh (Quigley 60), Simpson, Poland (Vicary 60), Mike, Devlin. Subs not used: Holcroft, Bates. Attendance: 501. Man of match: Steve Davis.