LEIGH RMI totally outclassed Grantham in front of more than 600 spectators in the first round of the FA Trophy.

But, in a careless performance, they had to settle for a tense 1-1 draw.

Striker Lee Cryer spurned good chances, besides rattling the woodwork twice, and substitute Keith Evans was also guilty of costly misses.

But the biggest blunder of all came from Martin James who had a hotly-disputed 68th minute penalty saved by the former League goalkeeper Steve Sutton.

The Lincolnshire side argued that justice had been done . . . even if Gary Mills' challenge was an infringement, it was outside the box.

RMI boss Steve Waywell was forced to play teenage central defender Neil Wallace at right-back when Stuart Locke failed a late fitness test, but that didn't stop Chris Shaw opening the scoring in the seventh minute.

He latched on to a cross from James and headed the ball over Sutton for his fourth goal in as many games to take his season's tally to nine.

Grantham had only two real chances throughout the game.

Leigh keeper Dave Felgate pushed a free kick from player-manager Mills round the post but couldn't stop Adrian Thorpe equalising on his debut in the 32nd minute.

Graham Hill's clearing header fell to Thorpe and he beat Felgate with a drive into the bottom corner.

"It was just what we deserved because it was a very even game," said Grantham secretary Pat Nixon.

"Leigh created more chances and caused us a few problems, but on the balance of play a draw was just about right."

It was a view not shared by Waywell.

"We should have won in a canter with the chances we created," he snapped.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.