Redditch United 2 Leigh RMI 1

STRIKE pair Carl Heggs and Scott Rickards struck in the space of five frantic second-half minutes to hand Reds three vital points in their battle to avoid the drop.

And with fellow forwards Richard Ball and Dave Walker watching from the bench, the goalscorers created enough chances to have won by a country mile.

The partnership, rekindled having been forged at Tamworth, worked inside the opening five minutes when Rickards picked out Heggs unmarked in the middle only for a poor first touch to let the recent signing down.

Redditch continued to pepper the Leigh goal with Heggs having a header deflected over the bar on nine minutes before Rickards had what seemed to be a perfectly good goal ruled out by the referee moments later.

Heggs had further chances on the half-hour - an overhead kick just too high - and three minutes before the break when he turned a Rickards pass wide of the upright.

Leigh rarely had a sight of goal in the opening 45 minutes but could still have opened the scoring late on when a slip by Exodus Geoghaghan gifted the ball to Kevin Rapley whose shot was deflected just past the post by Reds keeper Richard Anstiss.

The second half was just six minutes old when United finally made their pressure count. Rickards and Richard Softley were involved in the build-up, the latter picking out Heggs six yards out who chested the ball down before volleying past John Lamb in the visitors' goal.

Heggs then turned provider on 56 minutes, setting up Rickards who drilled his shot beyond the Leigh keeper. Still the Reds pushed forward and Simon Hollis should have added a third two minutes later but was off target with his effort from eight yards.

A neat finish from Rapley gave Leigh hope on 69 minutes but the expected onslaught from the Lancashire side never materialised with the Reds finishing the game on top.

Carl Palmer was denied by the keeper on 72 minutes with substitute Robert Taylor seeing Lamb brilliantly palm his effort around the post ten minutes later.

Leigh substitute Chris McDon-ough was sent off for violent conduct just two minutes after coming off the bench, the striker barging Anstiss to the floor as the Redditch keeper shepherded the ball out of play.

The result made it ten points from four games for the Valley Stadium side following their 1-1 draw with Barrow in midweek.

Hollis handed United a 19th-minute lead only for Nick Rogan to level five minutes before the break.

Reds (v Leigh): Anstiss 6, Petty 7, Whitcombe 6, Rea 8, Geoghaghan 7, Softley 6 (Taylor 64, 7), Hollis 6 (Ball 84), Murphy 7 (Downes 78), Rickards 8 HEGGS 9, Palmer 7. Subs (not used): A Walker, D Walker. Leigh: Lamb, Filipeck (McDonough 86), Roberts, Briscoe, Dunne, Brockley, Settle, PORTER, Rapley, Simm (Lugsden 78), Taylor (Ellison 86). Subs (not used): Jackson, Girdlestone. Reds (v Barrow): Anstiss 6, A Walker 5, Whitcombe 6, Rea 7, GEOGHAGHAN 8, Softley 6, Hollis 7, Murphy 5 (Taylor 64, 7), Ball 6 (Rickards 70, 7), Heggs 7, Palmer 5. Subs (not used): D Walker, Downes, Deakin.