Leigh RMI 1-0 Chorley by Martyn Hindley

NOT 12 months have passed since Phil Thomson coined the phrase "winning ugly" - it took less than 12 minutes of this Lancashire Trophy semi to understand exactly what he meant.

Because while Leigh are celebrating a first cup final since defeat to

Droylsden in the 1999 Presidents Cup final, there was precious little to celebrate in the manner in which it was achieved.

For their progression to a face off with either Accrington Stanley or Kendal Town they are chiefly indebted to old boy Andy Mason whose downward header in stoppage time should have been nestling in the bottom corner rather than being hustled to safety by a combination of woodwork and Stuart Coburn.

RMI took 25 minutes to register an attempt on Lee Bracey's goal but with it they took the lead. Phil Salt's meek free-kick was allowed to bounce at the near post enabling Ged Courtney to loop the decisive flick over a stranded goalkeeper.

Breakthrough

Hardly a deserved breakthrough for an RMI first team playing a side two divisions their junior. A brief period of fresh, fast flowing football was instigated by the goal and the hosts may have snatched another had Stuart Whittaker's attempt been closer to the target than corner flag.

Moments after the change of ends, Leigh could have laid the tie to rest when Ian Monk raced into a through ball from Neil Durkin only to fire his effort across the face of goal and inches clear of the far post

Chorley were unruffled by their local rivals' ineptitude. Out of nothing, Ian Barker came within inches of restoring parity when his outstretched left leg was inches away from a Mason flick on after an exocet cross from Darren Emmett.

Mason looked the most likely player in either side to score and Martyn Lancaster must have been expecting him to oblige with an equaliser after his slip left him in. Not for the first time this term, Coburn's steady gloves got RMI out of jail.