Prime made the most of a rare dry winter's day to play their first home game in 6 weeks against title-favourites Leigh.

All of the starting XI from last week's defeat at FC Revolution were available and the only change was a tactical one with Westcott replacing Ferguson as Prime started with a 4-5-1 formation. Ferguson was joined on the bench by Ellis and Davis.

Prime starting terribly with the defenders all guilty of letting a long throw sail over their heads to the back post where Leigh's on-rushing midfielder finished well with his left-foot.

It might have been even worse for the home side when their striker glaced a header onto Balcombe's post with less than 10 minutes played.

Prime's poor start was compounded when Sykes was forced off with a groin injury with Davis replacing him and Sander moved into a more advanced left-wing position.

Prime suddenly started to wake up with the midfield trio of Walker, Westcott and Abu snapping into some tackles and getting the ball out wide to Sander and especially the dangerous Henshall who was causing the Leigh left-back plenty of problems.

Barker's work-rate and power up front was unsettling the Leigh back 4 and Prime sensed a weakness when a long through-ball caused confusion between their centre-back and keeper, with Barker narrowly failing to capitalise.

Midway through the half, Prime got themselves level when the industrious Westcott played in Henshall who had timed his run to perfection. He kept his cool to round the keeper and slot home.

Prime were now in the ascendancy and they went close to taking the lead when Westcott's shot was parried by the keeper and Barker narrowly failed to turn in the rebound.

But it was Leigh who were back in front just before the break. Cary was penalised for pushing on the edge of the box and and although Balcombe saved well down to his left, Leigh were quicker to the rebound to re-establish their lead.

At the break Prime knew that in the muddy conditions they had been guilty of over-playing on occasions and the balls into the channels were the way forward.

Leigh came out of the traps much the quicker though and they extended their lead just 5 minutes into the half.

Prime were again guilty of starting the half sloppily and Balcombe almost gifted Leigh a 4th goal when he completely scuffed a clearance on the bobbly surface, but to his credit he made amends with a fine save.

The tiring Sander was replaced by Ellis down the left wing as Prime sought a way back into the match. When the goal came it was from an un-expected source as Henshall burst down the right and his cross split both Barker and Westcott, but the Leigh centre-back had a moment of madness as he rolled the ball into his own net under little pressure.

The goal gave Prime a massive boost and now Prime were forcing Leigh back. The equaliser came when Barker chested the ball down with his back to goal just outside the box. As the ball dropped, he looped a shot goalwards over his shoulder and the ball lobbed perfectly into the net, leaving the keeper stranded.

THe topsy-turvy game continued as 5 minutes later, Leigh restored their lead as their striker beat the offside trap and Balcombe to put them back in front.

Goldsmith responded by bringing on Ferguson for Walker as Prime switched back to 4-4-2. They were not behind for long as a deep free-kick into the Leigh penalty box was only half-cleared and the ball fell to Henshall who somehow rolled the ball through a ruck of players and into the net for 4-4!

The game was now anybody's and Prime got the bit of luck that they needed when Barker's cross-shot hit the arm of the Leigh defender and the referee awarded a slightly harsh penalty.

There was no mistaking Barker's spot kick though which nearly ripped the net out and suddenly Prime had turned it around.

With 15 minutes left, memories of previous late concessions against Rusthall and Valour could have come back to haunt the home side but Williams, Cary, Mazurkiewicz and Davis all made fine late tackles in the closing stages and Balcombe did well to hold a fierce drive from the edge of the box as Leigh surged forward.

In truth though, the last 5 minutes was fairly comfortable and Prime nearly extended their lead when Abu's piledriver was well stopped by the visiting keeper.

A buoyant home side celebrated at the final whistle - a performance and a result which shows what Prime can do and maybe their promotion challenge is not over just yet.