Leigh RMI 4, Burton Albion 2 by Martyn Hindley

ANDY Heald produced a stunning performance as Leigh RMI broke their points duck for the season - but it left fans asking "why wasn't he in the side sooner?"

Heald made his first start for RMI in the new campaign and automatically looked like the missing link in midfield as he had a hand in each of the first three goals for Steve Waywell's men.

The local lad made himself an instant hero on the terraces 13 months ago when he scored a tremendous free-kick against those loveable rogues from the JJB Stadium, and again it was his set-play that did the damage against Nigel Clough's recently promoted Albion.

Burton 'keeper Matt Duke struggled to hold on to Heald's venomous free-kick and Dino Maamria was the first to react to put the loose ball away. It was a much needed goal for the striker who has not looked his best in the early

part of this campaign as he did in the last.

Temporarily though, it saved Leigh's blushes as it levelled a freak goal that had put the brewery town visitors ahead. Three minutes earlier, a Steve Evans shot had cannoned off Neil Durkin and squeezed under Stuart Coburn to trickle in via the woodwork.

Adverse effect

It was one of the goals that traditionally goes against a side down on their luck, but rather than having an adverse effect on Waywell's men it kick-started them into action.

Less than a quarter of the match had gone when Ged Kielty turned in a Dominic Ludden cross to make it 2-1 and the fans were sent for their half-time pint in high spirits when Maamria raced on to a long ball from Heald to make it three.

Celebrations at Hilton Park are rarely reserved for football but this was a truly commanding performance where RMI continued to dominate after the interval. Maamria's speculative conversion of Ian Monk's cross completed his

first hat-trick in the red and white of RMI but more importantly it offered some breathing space where it was desperately required.

Burton were unbeaten before arriving at Hilton Park on Saturday, and despite a late strike from Christian Moore, they never looked like putting Leigh under enough pressure to earn a point.

But the time to be excited has been and gone. Leigh won their third match of the season last season before proceeding to lose their next five and float three points adrift of the pack. History must not repeat itself.