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| Leigh RMI 2 Daggers 1 |
| Conference - 09/08/03 |
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As was expected, virtually the team that started last week's friendly with QPR started the season for the Daggers, with the only change being the recovered Jackson replacing the not yet fit Matthews in defence with Vickers moving across to the middle. New signings Chris Piper, Meechan and Bentley had to make do with a bench appearance, Lenny Piper and Keith Scott not even making the 16. Pullen continued in goal in Roberts' injury-forced absence, with Lampton in as emergency cover from Hendon's reserves.
Even in the sweltering heat, Leigh RMI were always going to make it difficult, and as it turned out, seemed to be sharper and more up for the match than the visitors. Early corners failed to cut the ince with a complete lack of height in the Daggers' team, but Bruce went closest early on from Cole's header back, volleying over the bar from 12 yards. Mustafa tried a long shot that was easily gathered and low crosses from Mustafa and Janney weren't converted.
Leigh took the lead with 18 minutes on the clock. Loanee Robinson, who had been causing problems already, skinned Tarkan and pulled it in at the near post for a seemingly harmless cross. However, rather than go to meet the ball, Pullen waited for it and McNiven stole in for a debut goal. By now, RMI were winning the midfield with Shipp not having the best of games. Janney had to clear off the line as the home side threatened to extend their lead and Durkin missed the target with a header.
Paul Bruce was finding space on the left but the ball was not finding him even when in 15 yards of room in the Leigh half of the field. However, he did have an opportunity to influence the game when Cole was fouled 20 yards out. His left-foot free kick curled round the wall and despite being well inside the post and Coburn getting a hand on it, the ball nestled in the back of the net to level the scores.
The second half saw Leigh off to an equally fast start as they sought to regain the lead. It took just a few minutes for poor defending to give them the chance. A simple long punt by Coburn left Vickers beaten in the air by Robinson and McNiven left Cole standing as he ran through and got the ball over Pullen and under the bar for a superb finish.
Up front, Mark Stein and Braithwaite were gettin very little in the way of service. Stein particularly was out of the game and it came as suprise when Paul Bruce, one of the better players of the day, and Janney were sacrificed for Bentley and Meechan, leaving the ineffectual Shipp and Stein on the field. Earlier, Cole had already gone off on a stretcher after twisting his ankle. Meechan almost had an immediate impact, chasing down the left to hook a long ball back across goal for Braithwaite at the far post who somehow didn't even make contact with the header.
Bentley was the most influencial player by now and was running with and passing the ball expertly as he searched for inroads to the equaliser. Meechan's weak header from range was never any trouble but Bentley fired just over after running down the left and coming inside two defenders. He also put a header wide from Jackson's corner and had a great double chance, the first blocked and the second over the bar from a few yards out but a difficult angle.
With just a minute left Meechan stole in on a cross only to put over from just a couple of yards out, but was flagged offside anyway, and the whistle went on the end of a disappointing performance which only really came to life with 15 minutes left, leaving RMI a great chance to pick up three points which they duly did.
