By Matt Lawton
December 12 2003

Leigh RMI make the lengthy trip to London on Saturday afternoon to face perennial FA Cup heroes, and Conference promotion challengers, Dagenham & Redbridge. Dagenham have been one of the most succesful Conference sides of recent years, and have beaten the likes of Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, while taking London rivals Charlton Athletic to a replay, almost famously defeating the Premiership outfit away from home. The Daggers looked sure to be one of the main challengers again for promotion this year following last season's play-off final defeat to Doncaster Rovers, but the London side are suffering an indifferent season, and are currently occupying a disappointingly low mid-table position as we go in to the second half of the season. However, in the overall Conference "form table", the Daggers are riding high in 3rd place and will be confident of continuing their recently excellent good form which has seen them pull away from the dreaded Conference drop zone.

The sides met on the opening day of the season, and two debut goals from former Hamilton Academicals striker David NcNiven gave his new side a famous 2-1 victory at Hilton Park over the promotion hopefuls.

Come tomorrow, and RMI will again be going in to the game in good form, with just one defeat in the past four games, and their 'Saturday off' last weekend, due to Gravesend & Northfleet's continued FA Cup participation, will have done much to help heal the knocks and bruises which have so often proved to be the downfall to clubs who's squads are of similar size to RMI's.

The hosts will be without recent signing Chris Moore, with the striker out through suspension, though they do report a fairly clean bill of health following their defeat on penalties in an Essex Senior Cup tie with East Thurrock United on Tuesday evening. Their only worry is former Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Tony Roberts, who suffered an ankle injury last weekend, with recent signing from Barnet Danny Naisbitt waiting in line to make his debut.

RMI make the trip with a fully-fit squad, with Leigh boss Phil Starbuck boosted with the news of the return of his assistant manager Steve Redmond, who comes back in to the side after finally recovering from a lengthy absence because of a calf injury.

Shrewsbury Town striker Ian Fitzpatrick is set to make his RMI debut after signing a one month loan deal at Hilton Park yesterday, and he is set to start alongside leading scorer David McNiven, who will be looking to repeat his opening day goalscoring exploits.

Following the departure of long serving right winger Ian Monk to Stalybridge Celtic yesterday, former Barnsley winger Carl Barrowclough is set to line up as RMI's right wing back following an impressive run of form.

RMI are expected to line up as follows:

Gary Kelly, Andy Roscoe, Carl Barrowclough, Martyn Lancaster, Neil Durkin, Gerry Harrison, Warren Peyton, Wayne Maden, Carl Rezai, David McNiven, Ian Fitzpatrick.