Leigh RMI 2 Stevenage Borough 1 - CHRIS Ward started to repay the faith that Steve Waywell has shown in him by scoring his first for the club in the victory over Stevenage Borough.

Ward's move from Barrow caused much consternation in Cumbria, with fans of the Holker Street boys claiming that he wasn't good enough to grace their first team in the UniBond Premier League. But he had only played seven games for them and after three in RMI colours, supporters were starting to draw the same conclusions.

The 21 year-old striker was dropped after just three games at the club but he highlighted his potential with the second Leigh goal six minutes from time. Jason Goodliffe lost posession and then tripped over his own feet, allowing Ward to pounce and slide the ball past Mark Westhead.

Westhead traded Hilton Park for Broadhall Way in the summer, but he must have wished he had stayed as the professional outfit grapple with relegation along with the Railwaymen.

But it was the unfashionable hosts who dominated proceedings from the moment that Ged Kielty rose unmarked to power home a Neil Fisher cross in the tenth minute. Accompanied by Phil Salt, the midfield had their best outing of the season to date although the football couldn't have been scrappier at times.

It's points that win prizes though and on the only first-half occasion that Jean-Michel Sigere escaped his marker Wayne Maden, Stuart Coburn denied the former Rushden striker with a brave smothering save. Playing with a damaged right ankle, Coburn was as much of a hero as anyone.

Holding a slender advantage, Leigh went in pursuit of a clinching second shortly after the interval. Simon Wormull's long-distance efforts cruised comfortably over the top, Charlie Macdonald skewed his shot across the face of goal and Sigere's elegant lob landed inches to the wrong side of the post.

Ward's goal calmed the nerves among a group of supporters who had seen Leigh claim just one point from a possible 18. But at a time when an often erratic RMI needed to hold firm at the back more than ever, the introduction of Gerry Harrison off the bench with nine minutes to go was a welcome sight.

Harrison's calming influence has been notable in its absence during his enforced five week absence owing to knee surgery and although he was still far from full fitness, he may be in contention for a starting role when RMI go to Gravesend this weekend.

Borough did hit the mark late on when Macdonald raced on to a cheeky flick-on from Kirk Jackson and lashed home but it was too little, too late.

RMI: Coburn, Maden, Durkin, Fisher (Harrison 81), Fitzhenry, Williams, Salt, Kielty, Courtney (C Ward 64), Maamria, Monk. Subs unused: Okore, Tolson, McGill. Attendance: 335.