Leigh Genesis manager Steve Bleasdale started with an experienced side against their lower league neighbours, with only former Bury striker Jordan Stepien missing from their recent recruits as Steve Dickinson, Jerome Fitzgerald, Alex Mortimer, Andrew Teague, Tom Field, Josh Wilson, Darren Mansaram and former England Under 21 international Chris Holland all featured in the Leigh starting line up.

With Teague and Rob Marsh-Evans comfortable at the heart of the Genesis defence, Leigh midfielders Josh Wilson and Chris Holland dominated the game in the centre of the field, allowing the likes of Tom Field and Alex Mortimer to link up with forwards Darren Mansaram and Richard Chetcuti.

Field was a particularly impressive performer as he found himself at the hub of much of Leigh's attacking play, firing a left foot shot narrowly over the crossbar before being denied by the Colls goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.

Genesis continued to dominate proceedings and Field again went close when he connected with a sharp cross from the left flank, only for the speed of the pass to challenge Field, who only managed to fire the ball over the crossbar.

Richard Chetcuti had a golden chance to put Leigh Genesis in front on the half hour mark when he turned towards goal when twelve yards out, only for his fierce shot to be well saved.

The one-time Chelsea trialist didn't have to wait long to get his name on the score sheet though, firing home a rebound after thirty five minutes when Tom Field originally saw his shot parried by the Collieries goalkeeper.

Chetcuti had linked well up front with strike partner Darren Mansaram, with the former Grimsby Town striker, a recent signing from Irish Premier League side Bohemians, showing a quality of touch and speed of thought that had been somewhat lacking alongside the pace of Chetcuti in the Leigh RMI side towards the end of last season.

Just a matter of minutes after taking the lead, to the delight of the large travelling support, Leigh doubled their lead when a cross from the left hand side was glanced in to the top corner by former Northwich Victoria man Josh Wilson, impressive in midfield although equally adept in defence, leaving Leigh Genesis two goals to the good at the break.

That lead might still have been extended though shortly before the whistle in a bizarre passage of play that saw Genesis twice hit the crossbar within seconds of each other, a beatifully dinked shot looping on to the crossbar, with Tom Field's attempt from the rebound hammering against the woodwork.

As is generally the case in pre-season friendlies, half-time saw a number of changes for both sides as each manager looked to see what could be offered by each member of their squad.

The likes of Bradley Maylett, Andy Heald and Tim Dittmer, all stalwarts of Leigh RMI's Conference North campaign last season, all took to the field for the final forty five minutes as they looked to prove themselves worthy of a place in the revamped Leigh squad.

Maylett certainly wreaked havoc of the right side of Leigh's midfield, producing a superb cross for fellow substitute Karl O'Donnell, only for his header to be superbly tipped over the crossbar.

It was Heald that was next to find himself amongst the scorers when a cross from the right flank found itself in the path of the Leigh veteran, who made no mistake in turning the ball in to the net to put his side 3-0 up.

Former Northwich Victoria winger Maylett again proved to be a nuisance in creating the fourth Leigh goal of the evening, crossing for substitute Chris Coward to score Leigh's fourth goal of the evening.

As the entertaining game headed in to stoppage time, Leigh Genesis scored their fifth goal of the evening as a long ball from defence found it's way to Karl O'Donnell, who deftly lobbed the ball over the Atherton Collieries goalkeeper to give Leigh Genesis a five goal lead with virtually the last kick of the game.

Although it is only early days in terms of the preparations for the upcoming UniBond Premier League campaign, a five goal victory is never a bad one in anyone's books, with Steve Bleasdale's side lapping up the applause of their vocal travelling supporters at the end of the game as they looked ahead to Saturday's trip to UniBond League Division One side Warrington Town (3pm kick off).

Leigh Genesis (all used); Steve Dickinson, Jonathan Goulding, Jerome Fitzgerald, Alex Mortimer, Andrew Teague, Robert Marsh-Evans, Tom Field, Josh Wilson, Richard Chetcuti, Darren Mansaram, Chris Holland, Karl O'Donnell, Ryan Mitchell, Chris Coward, Paul Booth, Tim Dittmer, Andy Heald, Bradley Maylett, Danny Penswick, Reece Kelly, Thomas Moore, Danny Williams, Jerome Watt

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