Leigh RMI 1 Exeter City 1: LEIGH RMI grabbed a vital point in their Nationwide Conference survival bid after an entertaining draw against Exeter City on Saturday.

Phil Starbuck's men dominated the first half proceedings and took a 41st minute lead through Wayne Maden, who capped off a man of the match display with a well taken goal.

But Exeter showed their promotion pedigree and equalised 11 minutes into the second half through James Coppinger.

The RMI boss was pleased with the Railwaymen's first half display -- but disappointed with the way his side dropped two precious points.

He told the Jourbal: "I think we played very well in the first half. We kept our shape and we could have been more than one goal up before half time.

"I was a bit disappointed with the first 15 minutes of the second half. We were a bit naive and we lost our discipline. We changed things around to 3-5-2 which helped us.

"Overall the lads worked hard and deserved a point, maybe even all three. We've shown our worth, the lads are now beginning to play for each other, their confidence has returned and we're heading in the right direction."

The game sprung into life after 15 minutes. RMI put the former Football League side under constant pressure and won four successive corners. But City goalkeeper James Bittner ensured the scores remained blank.

RMI continued to produce a crisp, passing game which put City under constant pressure.

New boy Carl Barrowclough terrorised the Grecians rearguard with a number of scampering runs on the right. After 27 minutes Barrowclough sailed past two defenders and crossed the ball into the box, only for Wayne Maden to blaze over.

Exeter nearly grabbed an unlikely goal seven minutes later. James Coppinger ran into the the RMI box and rattled his shot against the crossbar and out to safety.

But Maden finally made the breakthrough for RMI four minutes from half time. Maden started the move, spraying the ball to Barrowclough, who fired in a low cross for David McNiven, who held off the City's defence long enough for Maden to sweep the ball home from six yards.

Exeter dominated the second half and RMI struggled to to string any passes together. And they finally made their pressure count in the 56th minute when Coppinger flicked the ball home past a despairing Gary Kelly from close range -- much to the delight of the vocal away support.

Substitute Adie Orr nearly grabbed the winner for RMI with his first touch, four minutes from time. Orr found himself free in the box but Scott Hiley cleared the danger.

McNiven also came close for RMI in injury time. Maden charged through midfield and flicked the ball up for McNiven on the edge of the box -- but his instant half volley sailed agonisingly over the bar.

RMI: Kelly, Harrison, Rezai, Shepherd, Lancaster, Durkin, Peyton, McNiven, Barrowclough, Roscoe, Maden.

Substitutes used: Monk, Orr, Tickle. Attendance: 634.