Leigh Genesis 0-1 Woodley Sports
Narrow defeat at Saturday's home stage scorcher
SAT 26 JUL 2008
Playing in their fourth pre-season friendly inside a week, and their fifth overall this summer, Leigh Genesis finally saw their 100% record come to an end with a narrow home defeat to Woodley Sports amidst scorching weather conditions at Hilton Park.
Although he made a goalscoring start in the 3-1 win at AFC Fylde on Thursday night, Jordan Stepien was missing from the Genesis side through a slight injury, meaning Darren Mansaram was partnered up front by ex-Prescot Cables forward Thomas Moore, but the Leigh partnership struggled against an efficient Woodley Sports back four that featured ex-Leigh RMI man Gavin Lee-Ellison.
With the immense heat meaning that there was a noticeable lack of intensity in the game, the first half was a pretty drab affair with Leigh's only genuine effort on goal being a Tom Field corner that was headed well over the crossbar by Josh Wilson.
Although Jerome Watt was against an impressive Genesis performer as he looked to take on opponents when in possession or look for a killing pass, Leigh were lacking the kind of fluency that they have shown in their previous pre-season games, with the best chance of the half falling to the visitors when ex-Leigh RMI striker Gavin Salmon, still a cult hero amongst the home support, hammered the ball against the post after eventually managing to avoid Jerome Fitzgerald's challenge.
The second half saw Genesis striker Darren Mansaram largely take centre stage, eventually managing to get a shot away from twelve yards out that flew narrowly wide of the post before later missing the goal by inches with a delicate chip from the edge of the area.
Leigh's best chance of the game also fell to the former Grimsby Town striker, a recent signing from Irish Premier League leaders Bohemians, when his bullet header from Alex Mortimer's pinpoint cross was superbly blocked at point-blank range by the Woodley Sports goalkeeper.
After occasionally threatening to create something of note, Woodley finally get themselves what would prove to be the winning goal when Salmon smashed a volley against the crossbar, the ball somewhat fortuitously rebounding off the striker's shoulder and past a wrong-footed Steve Dickinson.
The defeat is obviously a disappointment for players, supporters and the management team alike, but may actually have a positive effect on the side, providing the type of wake-up call that means any notions of complacency are wiped out in future games.
Leigh Genesis (all used); Steve Dickinson, Bradley Maylett, Jerome Fitzgerald, Josh Wilson, Andrew Teague, Rob Marsh-Evans, Jerome Watt, Tom Field, Thomas Moore, Darren Mansaram, Chris Holland, Karl O'Donnell, Richard Chetcuti, Danny Penswick
Meanwhile just down the road in Atherton, the Genesis Reserves took on Atherton LR's first team. Genesis ran out 2-1 winners as the side played their third game of pre-season.