NORTH Leigh made a cracking start to their Evo-Stik Southern League campaign with two victories, despite missing three penalties.

Miles Welch-Hayes, a loan signing from Oxford United, scored on his debut as the Millers opened their Division 1 South & West season with a 2-0 victory at home to Tiverton Town on Saturday.

Then on Monday night, an injury-time penalty save from keeper James Foster secured a 1-0 victory over Burnham which made Mark Gee’s side the early pacesetters.

The game against Tiverton was lively from the start and North Leigh’s Morgan Williams was put clear in the box from a through ball by Callum McNish but he dragged his shot wide from eight yards.

With both sides pushing for the opening goal, Foster was called into action as he made a spectacular diving fingertip save from Howe.

At the other end, Tiverton keeper Rhys Lovett just managed to get a glove to a Williams shot, this time fired in by Jamie Cook, and push it away for a corner in the 15th minute.

However, he could do nothing with the corner kick which flew over his head beyond the back post to the impressive Welch-Hayes, who sent a powerful header down and over his outstretched arm into the net for the opening goal.

Leigh now had a firm grip on the game and McNish’s long-distance shot was only grabbed by Lovett at the second attempt.

On the half-hour, McNish ran on to a through ball into the box and was clattered by the keeper for a penalty.

Cook took the kick which was saved as Lovett dived to his right to palm the ball away.

North Leigh sealed the result with their second goal in the 51st minute.

Morgan Williams broke to the bye-line on the left where he slipped the ball to McNish, who swivelled and crashed a left-foot shot past the helpless Lovett into the roof of the net.

North Leigh: Foster, Welch-Hayes, Hopkins (Fullerton 84), Turk, White, Hole, Woodley (Seacole 66), Osborne-Ricketts, Cook, McNish, Williams. Sub not used: Sanders.

Attendance: 75.

On Monday, North Leigh missed two penalties but still managed to triumph 1-0 at Burnham.

The visitors dominated the game and should have taken the lead midway through the first half, but Jamie Cook once again saw his spot-kick saved.

So when North Leigh were awarded a second penalty two minutes into the second half, Elliott Osborne-Ricketts was given the responsibility.

His spot-kick was blocked, but he managed to put home the rebound away and give the visitors the lead.

The Millers should have wrapped up the game in the second half, but missed several chances.

Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time, North Leigh captain Stuart Hole conceded a penalty.

But Foster came to the rescue with a great save to take Millers temporarily top of the table.

“That means nothing now,” said Gee.

“If we’re still there in April, that would be a different matter.”