In a drab first half where Genesis struggled to retain possession against a well-organised Skelmersdale side, Chris Dykes had Leigh's only attempt on goal with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area that flew over the crossbar.

At the other end, Leigh were thankful for the intervention of the woodwork on two occasions within seconds of each other on the ten minute mark as first a Karl Ledsham half-volley cracked the crossbar before Steven Drench superbly tipped Mark Houghton's rebound on to the left hand goalpost.

Skem took the lead on fifty six minutes when a harmless throw in on the left hand side received only a slight flick on and suddenly put Ledsham in the clear, with the winger making no mistake in slotting past Drench.

Jordan Stepien and Tom Ince were introduced from the Leigh bench to try and spark some invention in attack, but a Leigh midfield bereft of Andy Heald found it found to break down a stubborn visiting defence, failing to put any serious pressure on Ryan McMahon, a far cry from when the Skelmersdale goalkeeper had to pick the ball from the back of his net on four occasions when the sides met in the FA Trophy earlier in the season.

Leigh's hopes of mounting a comeback was virtually extinguished on seventy eight minutes when skipper Karl Munroe was shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders for the third time this season, and the second occasion in only eleven days after being sent for an early bath in the recent 2-0 win over Clitheroe at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

Genesis are next in action this Saturday (27th February) when they are once again playing at Victory Park, this time as visitors to an eleventh-placed Chorley side that are offering free admission to the former players of either club for the 3pm kick off.

Leigh Genesis; Steven Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Kris King, Mark Ross, Karl Munroe, Chris Page, Chris Dykes (Scott Sephton), Steve Flitcroft, Richard Ratcliffe (Jordan Stepien), Matt Jansen (Tom Ince), Jack Dorney

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