Reds boss John Coleman made three changes to the side the lost 5-0 away to Scarborough. Danny Alcock replaced Carl Ikeme in goal following Wolves' refusal to allow Ikeme to play in the FA Cup. Paul Howarth slotted into right-back while Paul Cook took the place of the suspended Lee McEvilly.
The first action of the game came when Alcock was forced into a good save from which Mike Flynn cleared the resulting corner. At the other end Ian Craney's long shot sent sailing high and wide following good work from Paul Mullin.
Stanley had the best chance of the early moment of the game fell to Jon Smith whose header had enough power to beat the visiting ‘keeper but not enough to find its way into the net and it was cleared with ease by the Leigh defence. Paul Cook, who worked hard in midfield all day and very rarely gave away possession, powered a free-kick just wide of the Leigh ‘keepers right hand post.
An Accrington Stanley corner met the head of striker Paul Mullin but it was just too much as the ball flew off the crossbar and to safety.
Craney gave the Reds another goalscoring chance when he beat four or five defenders in a quick run into the penalty area but he was unlucky to see his pass across the goalmouth roll straight into the visiting ‘keepers hands.
Despite Stanley having the better chances it was Leigh who took the lead after their midfielder was given far too much space on the right and the ball was header home from close range leaving the helpless Danny Alcock stranded. Danny Alcock prevented RMI from going 2-0 up soon after with another good save.
In the opening stages of the second half a Steve Jagielka corner was cleared by a Leigh RMI defender but he also clashed heads with a Stanley player and went off for treatment, returning to the field with a bandage round his head and a numberless shirt.
The Stanley fans were delighted to see want-away striker Lutel James enter the field and he was met with lots of ‘LUTEL LUTEL LUTEL' chants, which must have left him wondering if he really does want to leave the club which has fans that love him so much.
Brannan's passed free-kick was put wide by Paul Howarth and Stanley came even closer when Lutel James bravely ran at the goalkeeper but stabbed the ball agonisingly wide.
The poor Brannan was replaced by young striker Shaun Tuck but soon after Leigh were awarded a very soft penalty after Alcock was adjudged to have brought down an opposition attacker, Alcock went the wrong way and the score was 2-0.
Lutel James had plenty of half chances but it was never Stanley's day and the final score will be disappointing for Accrington.