Leigh boss Steve Bleasdale had almost a skeleton squad to choose from, with a spate of injuries meaning that the likes of Jerome Fitzgerald, Jonathan Goulding, Richard Chetcuti and Jerome Watt were all missing from the Leigh line up, while recent signings Chris Amadi and Chris McCaughtrie both watched from the sidelines after making their debuts in the 1-0 FA Trophy win at Harrogate Railway Athletic last weekend.

With the heavy conditions limiting the chances of any decent passages of fluid football, neither side managed to take control of an end-to-end first half, Genesis striker Jordan Stepien firing straight at the Witton goalkeeper before Steve Dickinson was called on to make a smart low save in the Leigh goal.

Although injury forced Witton duo Mark Drew and Steve Settle to watch from the sidelines against their former club, the hosts still boasted a healthy ex-Leigh contingent with the likes of Lee Thompson, Neil Smith and Scott Willis, though the latter failed to track opposite number Tom Field, only for the Genesis midfielder to drag his shot wide of goal.

Field was involved shortly afterwards in arguably the best chance of the first half as the hosts struggled to clear a corner, the ball eventually finding Field who in turn found centre back Rob Marsh-Evans, only for his point blank shot to be tipped superbly over the crossbar by Witton goalkeeper Greg Smith.

Controversy reigned shortly before the break when, as Witton again struggled to cope with a Leigh corner, Andrew Teague's shot seemed to be handled by a Witton defender on the ground, only for the appeals of visiting players and supporters alike to fall on deaf ears, leaving the game goal-less at half-time.

With Chris McCaughtrie an early second half introduction to the Leigh strike force in place of Matt Berkeley, Leigh managed to take the lead after just six minutes of the second half, Jordan Stepien beating the goalkeeper to a threaded Field pass to slide home his fifth goal of the season.

However, that lead was to last all of two minutes when some poor organisation from the Leigh defence left Rob Thornley unmarked to head the equaliser past Dickinson at the back post from a right wing free kick.

In what was quickly becoming a frenetic period, Leigh took the lead for a second time just five minutes when Mark Smyth's right footed shot was spilled by Greg Smith, allowing Brad Maylett to jubilantly sweep the ball in to the roof of the unguarded net.

Although only a one goal lead is never a comfortable margin, Genesis controlled the game from that point and finally made the points safe with eight minutes remaining when Smith was again at fault, allowing Tom Field's speculative shot from the edge of the area to skid off the turf and squirm humiliatingly over the line.

The victory lifts Leigh in to ninth position in the UniBond Premier League table ahead of the visit of Marine to Victory Park on Tuesday evening.

Leigh Genesis; Steve Dickinson, Josh Wilson, Alex Mortimer, Tom Field, Andrew Teague, Rob Marsh-Evans, Brad Maylett, Chris Holland, Jordan Stepien (Chris Amadi), Matt Berkeley (Chris McCaughtrie), Mark Smyth

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