Telford 5 Leigh RMI 0

by Martyn Hindley

A HAT-TRICK from Chris Murphy upheld Telford's reputation as Leigh RMI's bogey team, leaving Phil Starbuck to lament the unheeded post-Scarborough messages that resulted in the week's second heavy defeat.

When manager Starbuck called for consistency, this surely is not what he had in mind, as the goals against column increased by nine in only two games.

Starbuck promised changes and made three but they were largely enforced. Carl Barrowclough and Steve Redmond were sidelined through injuries picked up in midweek while Wayne Maden was missing from midfield through suspension.

They were replaced by Carl Rezai and striker Adie Orr, both making full debuts, although Orr had featured as a substitute against Scarborough.

The pre-match emphasis may have been on newcomers but it was a relatively old-hand, Neil Durkin, whose indecision led to Telford's opener in the tenth minute. The centre-half had dallied once too often on the edge of his own box and as he failed to clear, Tony Naylor whipped the ball from his feet and used all of his Football League experience to make the finish look simple.

Durkin was then one of three defenders culpable for the Railwaymen conceding a second goal, lofted arms appealing for offside even when Murphy had galloped clear to prod past Gary Kelly.

RMI had enjoyed healthy possession between strikes and even threatened themselves when Warren Peyton's carefully-placed shot from the edge of the area cannoned off a post via Chris McKenzie's fingertips.

Leigh looked liveliest amid scrappy exchanges at the start of the second half. Paul Shepherd almost rewarded them for their patience but fired wide from Dave McNiven's testing through ball.

With the passing of that attack followed all heart for the fight as the towel was flung into the corner with wanton disregard for the goal difference that may intervene between survival and relegation.

Sam Ricketts catalysed the collapse when he ran rings around Martyn Lancaster before squaring for Murphy to slam past Kelly from point blank range.

The visitors then had to endure further punishment.

They struggled to string enough passes together to escape from their own half at times and, bereft of confidence, they were shattered by Christian Moore's first touch after coming off the bench; a swooping header to convert Michael Blackwood's swinging cross.

Every Telford player wanted to cash in and Ricketts desperately wanted to get on the scoresheet, running past four players before getting under his drive and putting it well over the bar.

Undeterred, his commitment in disposessing Gerry Harrison on the edge of the box provided an assist instead.

He created the opportunity which left Murphy to slam home from 20 yards to complete Leigh's heaviest defeat of the season.