LEG-WEARY RMI can look back on a gruelling 61-game season with immense pride and satisfaction.

A year after snatching promotion to the UniBond Premier Division, the Hilton Park outfit ended their long season with a 1-0 win against Alfreton, collecting the three points that ensured a third place finish - the highest in the club's history.

Given a little more consistency at the business end of the season and Leigh could have been looking forward to Vauxhall Conference status.

They finished just seven points behind champions Barrow and were just a win away from claiming the runners-up spot from Boston United.

Yet Leigh will settle for third, knowing they have a talent to mix it with the best at this level.

Three defeats in their final seven games scuppered all chances of promotion but manager Steve Waywell was still in an upbeat mood.

"To come out of the first division and make such an impact at this level has been marvellous," he says. "Over the last few weeks results haven't gone for us but it's still been a magnificent achievement.

"But success is only really measured in silverware, and that's got to be our target next season."

Leigh had to work overtime to kill off relegated Alfreton, a side who beat RMI 3-2 only two weeks previously.

Town wasted early chances and were ultimately made to pay when Keith Evans struck his 17th goal of the season. Played in by the non-stop Eric Rostron, Evans finished with a low angled drive into the far corner.

As the season petered out, Leigh had just one more chance to double their lead, young Ian Barker volleying wide from Rostron's low cross.

Town, after their early flourish, were restricted to one clear second half chance, Glyn Stacey heading just over from a corner.

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