Leigh RMI 3 Barnet 3 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH RMI failed to extend their run to four consecutive victories after Barnet battled back from 3-1 down to snatch a point.

But it could have been so much worse for the Railwaymen as the North London side - a Division Three team last season - had numerous chances to grab all three points from Steve Waywell's grasp.

The first action took half an hour to materialise as Ged Kielty's wasteful effort from 20 yards threatened local residents on Glebe Street and after this distinctly turgid opening it was some surprise that there was a goal before half time. That there were two was almost revolutionary.

Leigh were first to gain the advantage in a contest that never saw them fall behind. Kielty's volley into the penalty area found the menacing Tony Black, whose shot was blocked by Lee Flynn. The rebound fell kindly for Dino Maamria to net his 18th of the season.

Any thoughts of imminent partying were scrapped four minutes later when Flynn's cross found Austin Berkley in acres of space at the far post, and having long-since peeled away from Dave German the task of heading past Mark Westhead from point blank range was a simple one. Indeed, it was Berkley who turned in the Bees' second after German's slightly confused attempt at a clearance almost on his own goal-line and a recovering Andy Farrell could only help the ball on its way to the net.

That goal came with 25 minutes to go and seemed suspiciously like a consolation after Leigh had dominated the opening stages of the half and opened up a two-goal cushion. Six minutes after the change of ends, German's cross was met by a Michael Twiss header for the ex-Manchester United striker to record his 14th of the campaign and he unselfishly off-loaded the ball to Tony Black eight minutes later for the third. Black made his 100th league start for the Railwaymen a memorable one as he calmly lofted the ball over the advancing Lee Harrison.

Three points in the bag? It seemed as though that was the case but Barnet fought back bravely and equalised after a period of sustained pressure. Westhead was first troubled by Rob Sawyers' venomous long-range effort which took a deflection off Ian Swan and forced the goalkeeper into a tremendous diving stop. As Mark Arber pushed the ball back into the area though, Sawyers was on hand to compound Leigh misery and level matters.