Prime returned to league action with a trip to Leigh to face last season's relegated Division 1 side. Prime were missing Hodges, Flamank and Sander and there continues to be a serious doubt over the likely return of last season's top scorer Joe Walker. Player/Manager Goldsmith filled the void up front.

Seb Fleming and Martin Coleman were recruited as emergency signings, with Fleming starting and Coleman joining Sturmey and Postlethwaite on the bench.

It was Leigh who started the brighter and they were ahead within 5 minutes when a ball into the box caused confusion between the keeper and the back four and when Davis only half-cleared, the ball was turned back into the 6-yard box and fired home by their striker.

Not exactly the start that a Prime side already lacking confidence needed, but if anything the goal woke the visitors from their slumber and they started to come into the game.

Fleming and Ellis were providing good width and on Leigh's small pitch, Prime tried to make the most of Goldsmith's long throws when they got into the final third. From one of his first deliveries Ellis arrived and headed fractionally over the bar with the aid of what looked like a deflection - although the ref gave a goal-kick.

Minutes later, Henshall returned a goal-kick with interest by winning a towering header. Goldsmith got to the ball in front of his marker and his deft flick around the corner released Barker who pulled his shot just wide under pressure from the other centre-back.

At the back Prime were generally looking more assured although Barnham did switch off once but luckily the Leigh left-winger failed to prosper.

Leigh should have increased their lead from a corner just before the break but their centre-back headed wide when it seemed easier to score.

It was 1-0 at the break and Prime were well in the game. As always the next goal would be crucial - and it came 5 minutes into the second half...unfortunately it went to the home team. Their midfielder picked up the ball just inside Prime's half and he waltzed through several half-hearted Prime tackles before firing a sliced shot into Kerton's top-right hand corner.

It was hard on the keeper who had minutes earlier produced a superb point-blank save after a suicidal ball across the face of goal by Davis.

Prime were given a lifeline on the hour mark. Barker's good work and persistance won a corner and from Abu's inswinging delivery, Tom Cary met the ball perfectly with his knee on the volley and it flew into the net.

Prime's heads were up and they forced a succession of corners which Abu and Fleming curled in dangerously - but they could not force home an equaliser.

At the other end Leigh hit the bar from a corner and in the scramble to get the ball away, Gray fell awkwardly and twisted an ankle. He had to be helped off the pitch and it meant a hurried debut for Coleman who went to right-wing with the versatile Ellis the auxilary centre-back.

Before the new defensive pair had a chance to settle it was 3-1. There seemed no danger as a long ball was played forward, but Cary air-kicked as he tried to clear on the half-volley and Leigh's striker was clean through and he beat Kerton to the keeper's left.

The home side seemed to grow in confidence and their playmaker scored an excellent 4th goal with 20 minutes left - beating Kerton all ends up from outside the box - again Prime were guilty of not closing him down.

Goldsmith brought on Postlethwaite and Sturmey at full back for the closing stages, and the subs seemed to give Prime a lift and they pulled a goal back with just under 10 minutes to go. Abu picked up the ball in the centre circle and his perfectly weighted through-ball bounced up invitingly for Barker to rifle home a difficult chance from the edge of the box after outstripping both centre-backs.

Suddenly Prime were dominating and it was close to 4-3 when Goldsmith fed Barker in the inside right channel and his cross evaded an onrushing Fleming by inches.

Prime continued to press from corners and throw-ins right up to the final whistle, but they could not find a way through a stubborn Leigh defence.

Another disappointing result but again there were plenty of positives to take from the match - not least Coleman's debut performance in midfield. The Numbers will look to pick up some points against Roselands at Cadogan next week.