Leigh RMI 1 Boston 2 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH were hit by a spot of goalkeeping trouble on Saturday as they were edged out by championship contenders Boston United at Hilton Park.

Already two goals behind by the half-time interval Steve Waywell's men were rocked by Mark Westhead's back injury that ruled him out of the remainder of the match.

With Craig Dootson out of favour and Dave Felgate at Hyde United, the manager had no alternative but to bring full-back Nicky Spooner off the bench and hand him the gloves for the second half.

As it was, Steve Evans' visitors opted to sit back on their advantage and Spooner was scarcely tested during a second half that almost saw a sensational Leigh fightback spoil the Pilgrims' party.

Substitute Dino Maamria thought that he had halved the difference when his cool chip over the advancing Paul Bastock looked to have dipped under the bar before landing tantalisingly on the roof of the net. With the fourth

official preparing to indicate stoppage time though, Leigh hit back to put a shudder down the spines of the copious travelling support.

Paul Ellender -- having been exemplary all afternoon -- stepped off wing wizard Ian Monk for long enough so that his charge from the centre circle reached a point 25 yards out, from which a fiercely struck drive offered Bastock no chance.

Backs to the wall for the visitors, but they could only watch and pray in the third minute of stoppage time as Marcus Hallows turned on a loose ball in the 18 yard box and, hindered by a bobble, hammered inches over the bar.

That signified the last action of a match where the Railwaymen had set themselves too tall an order in the first half.

Parity lasted just two and a half minutes as Simon Weatherstone raced down the left flank only to be

upended on meeting Ian Swan in the box.

For the second time this season Mark Westhead parried a penalty only to see the rebound netted. This time

Darryl Clare was the grateful recipient.

Boston were then held in a half where chances were at a premium until two minutes before half time when Clare was instrumental in doubling the lead.

He combined with Mark Angell to set up Mickey Brown and his well-struck drive made the advantage unassailable.

Boston had little to get excited about after the change of ends but in the end is was Leigh's first time in six games leaving Waywell's main worry the goalkeeping crisis.