By Matt Lawton
October 18 2006

Without a game last weekend, Leigh RMI have had the time to engineer how, after two consecutive defeats, they are likely to get their season back on track, starting with the visit of basement side Scarborough to Hilton Park this coming Saturday. Although Scarborough’s last visit to Leigh ended in a drab 1-1 draw in 2004, games between the sides have generally been entertaining encounters, including RMI’s 2-1 victory at the first stage of the 2001/2002 LDV Vans Trophy that saw Steve Waywell’s side clinch a trip to Hull City in the next round.

Without doubt the most interesting encounter between the two sides came in the 2002/2003 season when, after several days of torrential rain, the Hilton Park pitch somewhat resembled a boating lake (picture below courtesy of Bernard Dobbs). Mark Patterson, RMI’s manager at the time, was apparently so determined for the game to take place, and therefore take advantage of the visitors reputed injury problems, that he was infamously spotted in a Leigh DIY superstore before the game buying several forks that were to be used to help drain the surface water from the field, though his efforts were in vain as his side fell to a 2-0 defeat.

Ironically, Patterson is now Scarborough’s manager and arrives at his former club with the Seadogs at the foot of the Conference North table, thanks in part to a deduction of ten points before the season had even begun due to the club’s financial problems, something which has plagued them in recent years as they tumble down the leagues. It’s all a far cry from Scarborough’s Football League days, when they more than held their own in the professional ranks, including a famous victory over Bolton in the late 1980’s.

While RMI were taking a break from action following their elimination from the FA Cup by Unibond League side Woodley Sports in the Third Qualifying Round, Scarborough needed a replay on Tuesday night to defeat Ossett Albion and find themselves just one more win away from a potential tie against a Football League side.

Mark Patterson’s visitors have been struck a blow in the build-up with the news that Mark Wilberforce will have to continue in goal after previous number one Curtis Aspden was recalled by Hull City from his loan spell at the McCain Stadium.

However, RMI boss Stuart Humphreys has been given a big boost ahead of the crunch encounter with the signing of locally-based former Bury defender Lee Unsworth, who joins the club with a brief to shore up RMI’s defence following a short spell with Conference North rivals Hyde United.

Saturday’s kick off is at 3pm at Hilton Park, with normal admission prices to apply as RMI look for the support that will help them climb back away from the relegation zone.