Another magnificent victory for Leigh. UKHS..be there Good Friday for the vital matchup against Lancaster!!
Garforth Town 0 LGFC 5
Genesis show six appeal
SAT 27 MAR 2010
A sensational performance from Leigh Genesis saw Garry Flitcroft's side extend their unbeaten run to six games and keep pace with play-off rivals Curzon Ashton after a comprehensive dismantling of a Garforth Town side that had won their last two home outings.
Wednesday evening's 0-0 draw with Curzon meant Leigh missed the chance to nip in front in the race for the final play-off spot, but victory sees Leigh stay level on points with their rivals, with Steven Drench's clean sheet taking him to seven and a half hours of football since he last conceded a goal.
Genesis had a dream start to what was likely to be a tough trip over the Pennines, taking the lead with just a minute on the clock when centre back Mark Ross headed home his first goal for the club from a Tom Ince free kick.
Garforth came within a whisker of equalising on eleven minutes when Lee Mason cracked Drench's crossbar, but it was to be the only serious chance that the hosts could muster in the entire game, with Genesis missing three one-on-one chances later in the first half through Matt Jansen, Richard Ratcliffe and Tom Ince as the visitors carved open the Yorkshire side's defence.
Andy Heald was brought in to the fray at half-time to replace Ratcliffe and, on the occasion of his one hundred and fiftieth appearance for the club, the veteran midfielder doubled Leigh's lead on fifty one minutes, sending a low drive in to the corner of the net from outside the penalty area after Lee Woodyatt had done well to beat one man and cross to the centre.
Victory was sealed with Leigh's third goal on sixty seven minutes when Jansen tapped home his tenth goal of the season after Jack Dorney's initial attempt had rebounded in to his path.
Four minutes later and Genesis had their fourth goal of the game when Tom Ince volleyed home a Woodyatt cross.
Youngster Anthony Dorney, brother of winger Jack, was brought off the bench to replace Jansen and he almost marked his debut with a goal, thumping Craig Ellison's crossbar from a cross from fellow substitute Chris Dykes.
A fifth goal seemed likely, and it duly arrived in stoppage time when Ince was brought down in the area and Dorney duly slotted away the resultant penalty.
Such a victory will be a huge boost to confidence as the end of the season draws ever nearer, not to mention providing a timely boost to Leigh's already impressive goal difference, with Flitcroft's side making the short trip to struggling neighbours Salford City on Tuesday night (30th March, 7.45pm kick off) before welcoming leaders Lancaster City to the Leigh Sports Village Stadium for a 3pm kick off on Good Friday (2nd April).
Leigh Genesis; Steven Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Kris King, Mark Ross, Chris Page, Dale Whitham (Chris Dykes), Jack Dorney, Steve Flitcroft, Richard Ratcliffe (Andy Heald), Matt Jansen (Anthony Dorney), Tom Ince
Attendance : 190
Referee : C O'Donnell
Assistant (Red) : S Wade
Assistant (Yellow) : A Ward S