A 24th minute wonder strike from Liam Needham put The Blues ahead at the Northolme and, although Richard Chetcuti slotted in a quick reply for Leigh, Wes Parker nodded in what turned out to be the match winner on the stroke of half time.

The result was a double edged sword - it gave mid-table Trinity the edge over Boston - but it chopped the Railwaymen from next season's fixture list and they are now condemned to playing Unibond Premier League football.

Trinity, in theory, had very little to play for in a mid-table position that is too far from the play-offs and a long way from the dogfight at the bottom.

But in the run up to Saturday's game, the players and manager alike made it clear that they are desperate to finish above former Football League side Boston United and as such it was Trinity that did much of the early running.

After 24 minutes, Leigh's vociferous travelling support were momentarily silenced when midfielder Needham smashed a terrific 30-yard shot past Dittmer to put The Blues in front.

But that lead was to last only six minutes as young Leigh striker Chetcuti did well to beat his marker before knocking the ball past Adam Sollitt in the Gainsborough goal.

With the sides seemingly going to go in to the break on level terms, Trinity broke RMI's hearts virtually right on the half time whistle when a controversial free kick was given against Jonathan Goulding and Wes Parker took advantage of some slack marking to head the free kick past Dittmer.

Gainsborough appeared happy with their one-goal lead in the second half and rarely threatened Dittmer, while RMI struggled to get back in to the game.

Sollitt was forced into just a solitary decent save when he did well to pluck the ball out of the air as Brad Maylett tried to lob the ball over him.

The final whistle prompted a pitch invasion from the travelling support to thank the players for their effort throughout the season.

But the cold light of day will see the Railwaymen contemplating football at a lower level next season in their new home at the Leigh Sports Village.

Trinity, on the other hand, can look forward to relaxing over the summer in the knowledge that they have finished above Boston - if they manage to maintain the lead of three points in the closing fixtures.

The Blues travel to Burscough next on Saturday, April 19 for a 3pm kick off.