Stevenage Borough v. Leigh RMI preview

The Boro
By Matt Lawton
April 4 2003

Leigh RMI travel south to take on revitalised relegation rivals Stevenage Borough in a hugely vital Nationwide Conference game at Stevenage's Broadhall Way Stadium.

Leigh RMI manager Mark Patterson has no new injury worries, with his only absentee being defender Neil Fitzhenry who is out for the rest of the season. Patterson welcomes back former Blackpool centre-back Wayne Maden after he missed last week's 1-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers when serving a one match suspension.

Patterson looks certain to include three new signings in his squad although they're only likely to have a place on the bench as RMI look to keep the same side from their vital victory last weekend. Defender Guy Heffernan, who has signed from Blackpool, will keep his place on the bench from last weekend. Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Shaun Dootson, who returned to RMI this week after a brief trial on the south coast with Third Division outfit Bournemouth, is in line to make his debut. Patterson's other recent signing, young Liverpool striker Neil Prince, looks as though he will return to the side after making his debut in the 1-1 draw with Telford United a fortnight ago but missing last week's victory with a minor injury.

Opponents Stevenage, who have gained an almost completely new team after the appointment of former Farnborough Town miracle-worker turned villain Graham Westley, are sweating on the fitness of former RMI striker Dino Maamria who has got a hamstring injury which also plagued him during his Hilton Park career.

Maamria will probably join defender Justin Gregory on the sidelines, who is out through a broken jaw. Other than that, Westley has no injury worries as Boro look to continue their recent upsurge in fortunes.

It is sure to be a closely fought battle at Broadhall Way, do your best to get "darn sarf" to roar the lads on to another victory as the Railwaymen look to once again avoid relegation.