By Matt Lawton
April 25 2003

Leigh RMI travel down to Northamptonshire for what is ultimately the most important game in their history as they take on already-relegated Kettering Town on the final day of the Nationwide Conference season. Leigh need at least a point in Northamptonshire as they look for a fourth consecutive season of Conference football at Hilton Park next year.

Even if RMI achieve their main aim tomorrow and are victorious at Rockingham Road, it still may not be enough to prevent sliding back into the Unibond League Premier Division, three years after running away with the Unibond Premier championship under the stewardship of Steve Waywell.

RMI supporters will be anxious to hear of defeats for relegation rivals Southport and Gravesend & Northfleet as well as victory for the Railwaymen against Kettering, who were already doomed to return to the Dr. Martens' League several weeks ago, despite only being promoted back into the Conference and the end of last season.

Although the home side do not have anything official to play for, they will be looking to sign off to the Conference in style with victory over RMI which would probably spell relegation for the Lancashire outfit as well.

The home side are sweating over the fitness of Delroy Gordon, after he suffered a calf injury near to the end of Kettering's 2-0 defeat against Burton Albion on Easter Monday.

Definitely missing for the Poppies are Craig Norman and Scott Goodwin who are suspended, and Karl Colley, who has an achilles injury. Lee Howarth is also prevented from making a farewell to the Conference on the field due to a long term knee injury.

RMI manager Mark Patterson has no injury worries, former Chester City defender Martyn Lancaster being the only player on the sidelines, because of a suspension. Patterson will have to choose between under-fire former Doncaster striker Neil Campbell and former Stalybridge striker Ged Courtney to see who will partner Campbell's former Scarborough team-mate Keith Scott in Leigh's forward line.

Patterson realises that even three points might not be enough to save RMI from the dreaded drop, and he has promised an attacking attitude from the outset as Leigh look for the goals to again cement their place in non-league's top flight for another season, despite the pre-season predictions of relegation certainties.