With the midweek revelation that Genesis chairman Dominic Speakman was to withdraw his substantial financial support of the club, it almost made a welcome change for the club's supporters to have a chance to concentrate on on-field matters rather than off-field troubles as UniBond Premier League rivals Cammell Laird pitched up in Chorley.

Out of Leigh's matchday squad for fourteen players, only Steve Dickinson, Josh Wilson, Jordan Stepien and skipper Chris Holland had previously represented the club, with the remainder being made up of youthful reserve team players who were making the step up for their senior debuts.

Despite falling behind as early as the seventh minute through a looping Chris Adamson shot, Leigh looked as though they'd be keeping their dream alive only minutes later when Jordan Stepien's powerful free kick from the edge of the area was spilled by Lairds goalkeeper Ritchie Whiteside, allowing young winger Scott Sefton to jubilantly sweep the ball home on his first senior outing.

Sadly for Genesis, they didn't stay on level terms for long as Whiteside sent a long free kick forward in to the path of Eddie Jebb to half-volley the ball past Dickinson in to the top corner of the net.

The second half saw Leigh start brightly, a terrific David Hill run taking him past several would-be tacklers and in to the area, with his cross almost being diverted in to his own net by Lairds defender John Collins as he struggled to clear the ball. However, Leigh's hopes of a quick comeback were dashed when impressive winger Mike Rimmer cut inside to poke the ball past Steve Dickinson.

Genesis again threatened with a terrific Joe Fielding cross finding Mark Ratcliffe at the back post, only for the hard-working winger to be brilliantly denied by Whiteside, with Ratcliffe substituted to a standing ovation shortly afterwards.

Nathan Smith, Ratcliffe's replacement, almost pulled a goal back with virtually his first touch of the ball, sending a rasping thirty yard shot that stung the hands of Whiteside, with the Lairds goalkeeper almost deceived as the ball flew through the air.

Unfortunately, it was before long that Mark Reed scored Lairds' fourth, converting his own rebound after his original shot had struck the post, while the rout was completed when Alex Hay scored against his former club as a Genesis corner finished with Jebb quickly counter-attacking and avoiding Dickinson's attempts to shepherd him away to cross for Hay to score.

The final whistle was greeted with a good-natured pitch invasion from a number of home supporters as a mark of gratitude towards established first team players Steve Dickinson, Josh Wilson, Chris Holland and Jordan Stepien, who all turned down offers from other clubs in order to continue playing for Leigh on an unpaid basis.

The Leigh Genesis Supporters Association will be holding a vital meeting on Monday evening, with a 7:30pm start at Abbey Street Labour Club in Leigh before Genesis have another ‘home' fixture next weekend when North Ferriby United visit Hurst Cross, home of Ashton United, for a UniBond Premier League fixture.

Leigh Genesis; Steve Dickinson, Chris Page, Sam Parkinson, David Hill, Josh Wilson, Joe Fielding, Mark Ratcliffe (Nathan Smith), Chris Holland, Martin Ormisher, Jordan Stepien (Ike Williams), Scott Sefton

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