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Southport vs. Leigh RMI preview

By Matt Lawton April 20 2008
After completing more than 3,700 miles on the road this season, RMI's tour of the Blue Square North comes to an end on Tuesday evening with one of their shortest journeys as Steve Bleasdale's side visit the Lancashire coast to face play-off hopefuls Southport.

Hosts Southport, impressive 2-0 victors at fellow top five challengers Nuneaton Borough on Friday evening, go in to the fixture just one point adrift of the play-off places, with their game in hand on fourth placed Barrow meaning that consecutive victories against RMI and Vauxhall Motors will ensure a play-off spot in their goal of regaining Blue Square Premier status at the first attempt.

Despite their continued push for promotion, Southport have somewhat flattered to deceive on occasions this season and, as a result, manager Peter Davenport left his post only a matter of weeks ago, leaving Gary Brabin in the hot seat as the Sandgrounders, at the very least, aim to pip Harrogate Town to fifth position.

With the 2-1 defeat at mid-table Gainsborough Trinity earlier this month confirming RMI's relegation to the UniBond Premier League, their faithful band of supporters maintain hope of taking advantage of their game in hand over rivals Vauxhall Motors and hauling themselves from the foot of the table by the season's end, though this aspiration wasn't helped by Saturday afternoon's 1-0 home defeat to Worcester City after conceding an early Mark Danks penalty.

Striker Richard Chetcuti is to miss the final games of the season through injury, while former Burscough front man James Dunn is also struggling for fitness, leaving Gavin Salmon and Cayne Hanley as the most likely striking partnership, although top scorer Mark Smyth made his long-awaited return from injury in the game with Worcester, as did on-loan centre back Matt Lawlor.

Leigh's last visit to Haig Avenue came only a month ago when Robin Gibson's sending off on the stroke of half-time proved to be the catalyst for a second half capitulation in the semi final of the Co-Operative Challenge Trophy, a competition that would be won by Southport after beating Chorley in the final at the County Ground in Leyland.

A red card also proved pivotal in the league meeting between the sides earlier this season when Kevin Rapley was given his marching orders in a 1-0 defeat in front of Hilton Park's biggest crowd of the season, while Leigh's last league visit to Haig Avenue was a 4-2 defeat in September 2002.

With the Leigh supporters providing tremendous vocal backing in recent fixtures, Tuesday evening is likely to continue in the same vein as the club look to make a good go of their final fixtures in this league.

 

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