A goal ten minutes from time by Tyrone Fagan sent North Leigh slipping to a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Division 1 South & West pacesetters Stratford Town on Saturday.

The Millers were hoping to make it back-to-back wins following their 2-1 midweek success against AFC Totton, Kieren Sanders and Conor Ingram the scorers. But it wasn’t to be.

Saturday’s visitors – a big physical side – closed down the opposition quickly and were a danger at set-pieces.

The closest to a goal in a dull first half came after only three minutes when Millers’ captain Stuart Hole saw his well-struck shot hacked off the goalline by a defender.

The second half saw increased goalmouth action.

The hosts had to defend well at a corner, while at the other end danger-man Sanders jinked his way past a couple of defenders and put in a deep cross that ended with Ingram having his goalbound header blo-cked.

A few minutes later, Ingram headed straight into the arms of Stratford keeper Andy Kemp from three yards out.

With tim running out, a goalless draw appeared to be on the cards, but then came a route one winner for Stratford.

Kemp’s long goalkick was flicked on into the path of substitute Fagan just outside the home penalty area.

He drew Millers’ keeper Matt Bulman and tucked it past him from eight yards.

North Leigh threw men forward in search of the equaliser and were nearly caught out again as Richard Gregory’s lob bounced off the bar.

North Leigh: Bulman, Else, Hopkins, McNish, Gunn, Hole (Westlake 85), Bowles (Williams 67), Osborne-Ricketts, Ingram, Sanders, A Woodley (M Woodley) Sub not used: Turk.

Attendance: 96.