Leigh RMI 1 Winsford Utd 0

FA Cup 2nd qualifying round

By ANDY MAYLOR

"FOR being in't league, thar not much cop," said a Lancastrian voice during my visit to the loo at half-time. I couldn't argue with him.

United chose the FA Cup to produce their worst performance of the season and if it were not for goalkeeper Andy Oakes the scoreline would have been worse.

Blues were virtually non-existent in the first 45 minutes and it was no surprise when Leigh claimed the only goal of the game on 32 minutes.

Left-back Mick Wallace swung over a near-post corner and as the ball dropped from a sea of bodies, Keith Evans showed his poaching skills to slide in from close range despite the valiant efforts of Dave German to save the day.

Winsford then had to withstand a torrid finish to the first half. A curling free-kick from the edge of the area by Mick Wallace was tipped over by Oakes and then from another set-piece, substitute James Greaves directed a beautiful shot against the angle.

Oakes then saved his side again with a brilliant close-range block when Leigh midfielder Ian Monk was clear. For United the half-time whistle couldn't come soon enough.

Dalton Steele made a half-time substitution, bringing off Paul Wheeler and adding the extra firepower of Nathan Peel, but it was the home side who continued to cause the problems.

Greaves fired wide in acres of space and then Oakes made an astonishing save on the hour mark. A free-kick from Simon Turpin cannoned off Colin Lambert and Oakes had to change direction before guiding the ball safely over.

Oakes, who has been the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest, was in action again shortly after, this time with another super save to deny Eric Rostron.

United finally woke up in the last 10 minutes to pressurise the Leigh goal for the first time. Peel headed narrowly over and Eddie Hussin went close with a free-kick, but it was too little too late and Blues' 1998/99 FA Cup campaign lasted a disappointing 90 minutes.

Manager Steele overcame the pain of defeat to be typically philosophical.

He said: "We, and I include myself in that, did not come up to the standard required out there. Apart from a couple of players nobody did their job, and we were not at the races, but that is football isn't it?"

The manager also praised the attitude of Gary Talbot, who played with an injury.

"He showed us 90 minutes of guts and determination," said Steele.

Winsford: Oakes, German, Heesom (Hussin, 74 mins), Dove, Talbot, Wheeler (Peel, 45 mins), Thomas, Lambert, Shaughnessy, Steele, Aspinall. Sub not used: Challender.

Man of the match: Andy Oakes.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.