By Matt Lawton
November 21 2003

Exeter City, relegated from Nationwide Division Three last season, make the long trip north from Devon to take on an RMI side hopeful to repeat their heroics in Tuesday night's 2-2 draw at home with Shrewsbury Town. The Railwaymen produced a stirring performance on Tuesday evening and held a 2-1 lead until the game reached added time, only for the visitors to score a late equaliser.

RMI produced an excellent defensive performance in the first half to deter their visitors, while in the second half they produced an excellent attacking performance, with the Leythers showing some enterprising play and creating several chances, with top scorer David McNiven converting two of them in the four goal thriller.

Leigh RMI manager Phil Starbuck will be hopeful that his side can repeat their heroics of Tuesday, and he has been boosted by the signing of Unibond Premier League midfielder Mike Harris, with the Runcorn FC Halton star signing on a non-contract basis.

Starbuck is also keen to report a virtually fully-fit side, with his assistant Steve Redmond in line for a return to the side after missing Tuesday's game along with last weekend's 5-0 away defeat at Telford United.

Harris is set for a place on the bench along with former Manchester City trainee Adrian Orr as Starbuck seems likely to persist with the midfield which was so impressive on Tuesday evening, with recent signing Carl Rezai a huge success on his home debut. Rezai is set to join Paul Shepherd and Wayne Maden in midfield, with Warren Peyton providing a link between the midfield and lone striker David McNiven, with Ian Monk on the right wing and Andy Roscoe set to face his former club on the left.

Former Barnsley winger Carl Barrowclough is Starbuck's only injury worry, as he is still sidelined with the hamstring injury which has forced him to miss the past two games after being withdrawn at half time in the 4-1 home defeat to Scarborough ten days ago.

The visiting support will certainly have a lot to live up to following the huge turn-out of Shrewsbury Town supporters on Tuesday evening, who travelled the seventy-odd miles to Leigh in massive numbers, and contributing much to what was RMI's second highest league crowd ever of 1,219.

The visitors make the trip with a fully-fit squad to choose from, with striker Steve Flack returning from suspension and Les Afful returning to the squad following a stomach strain.