By Matt Lawton
January 14 2005

Two new signings are set to make their RMI debuts on Saturday afternoon when the Railwaymen look to put aside their terrible league form when they face Altrincham in the FA Trophy at Hilton Park. Blackpool defender Phil Doughty may make his first appearance for the Railwaymen after signing on a month's loan from the Seasiders, while former Carlisle striker Michael Reed may make his long-awaited first appearance since signing from Penrith, with the bad weather in Cumbria delaying his arrival in Leigh and therefore meaning he couldn't face Gravesend or Southport in games in the past week.

Despite being a league below RMI, Altrincham actually go in to the game as favourites due to RMI's terrible league form, along with the humiliating 5-1 home defeat to Southport in the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy on Tuesday night. In that game, Lutley was in the bizarre position of having to start two of his goalkeepers in the starting line up, but he should be without such problems on Saturday with players returning from suspension and unlikely to be stuck in traffic on their way to the ground as was the case on Tuesday night.

With £4,000 going to the winner of the match and Altrincham likely to bring a large travelling support with them, bosses at cash-strapped RMI are rubbing their hands in anticipation of boosting the club's depleted coffers, although the buck stops at the players when it comes to getting that all-important victory.