By Matt Lawton
September 12 2003

Leigh RMI make the long trip to Kent this weekend for a vital Conference game at the traditionally happy hunting ground of Gravesend, with the RMI squad improved by several new signings who arrived at the club this week. An already decent RMI squad has been further improved with the midweek signings of former Rotherham United midfielder Andy Roscoe and the three month loan signing of Bury midfielder Martyn Forrest, along with the arrival of former Oldham Athletic and Republic of Ireland veteran goalkeeper Gary Kelly, with Macclesfield trial duo Lee Hardy and Jamie Milligan both departing.

RMI manager Mark Patterson believes the signing of Roscoe will bring much needed balance to the RMI midfield, the left side in particular, especially when you take into account the departure of usual left sided man Andy Heald to Stalybridge Celtic last month.

For the second week in a row Patterson has no injury concerns or suspensions to contend with, although they didn't seem to make much of a difference last weekend when depsite having a full strength side to choose from, RMI fell to a demoralising 2-1 home defeat to struggling Forest Green Rovers.

However, Gravesend manager Andy Ford has the total opposite situation, with four key players almost certainly to be ruled out of Saturday's encounter. Long term injury victims Andy Drury and Paul Wilkerson, both out with ankle injuries, will definitely miss out, along with Robin Trott, who is also on the sidelines because of a long term foot injury.

Also likely to be missing will be Francis Duku, who aggravated a thigh injury at Scarborough last week, ironically on his return from the same injury, and is consequently struggling to be fit in time for Saturday's game.

RMI will be looking for a huge improvement from last week's poor performance, and although Gravesend away has been a happy hunting ground in the past, the Railwaymen know it will be anything but an easy ride.