Leigh Genesis Official Supporters
Leigh Genesis 1 Runcorn Linnets 0
By Matt Lawton
August 28 2010
A first half goal from Joe Evans was enough to give Leigh their first FA Cup win in nearly five years and overcome Vodkat Premier League side Runcorn Linnets in an entertaining Preliminary Round tie at Crilly Park.
Leigh went in to the game, only their second at their new Spa Road home, having suffered consecutive defeats at the start of their Evo-Stik League Division One North campaign, while visitors Runcorn parted company with manager Steve Wilkes earlier in the week, despite making an unbeaten start to the Vodkat Premier League season.
Remarkably, Leigh had failed to win an FA Cup tie in almost five years since winning 3-1 at Chester-le-Street Town in a Second Qualifying Round tie in September 2005, but were looking to set the record straight in their first ever meeting with Runcorn Linnets, though the old Runcorn club ran out 4-2 victors in an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie at Hilton Park in 1996.
Despite playing uphill in the first half, Runcorn had the first opening on fifteen minutes when Genesis centre back Kieran Molyneux misjudged a long ball forward from the Runcorn defence and missed his header, allowing Robert Whyte to run clean through on goal, only for the Linnets front man to drag his shot well wide of Adam Judge's goal.
A minute later and Leigh had their first attempt on goal when John Lawless showed some smart footwork in the penalty area to create enough space to get away a shot that was tipped away for a corner at the near post by Runcorn goalkeeper Phil Priestley, before Priestley did well to keep hold of a Nick Eastham half volley from the edge of the area on seventeen minutes.
After enduring an awkward opening period, Molyneux was brought off as early as the twentieth minute mark, with Danny Lyons coming on to the field at right back, with Scott Sephton moving inside to play at centre back alongside James Bell.
Genesis were unlucky not to take the lead on twenty three minutes when Mark King's corner from the left hand side was dropped by Priestley at the feet of Lawless, who did well to react but only managed to hook his shot against Priestley's left-hand post.
A Leigh goal seemed to be an inevitability, and Nick Eastham thought he'd secured it on twenty five minutes when his header beat Priestley, only for the retreating Matthew Ashcroft to hack the ball off the line, with Eastham having another chance four minutes later when he latched on to a precise Adam Strode through ball, only to drag his shot across the face of goal and wide.
A reminder of defensive duties was issued to the Leigh side on the half hour mark when Judge was called upon to make a smart save from Whyte, but Genesis finally got the goal that they deserved on thirty seven minutes.
A cross from the left hand side found Lawless, who laid the ball off for Paul Hopkins to fire a shot towards goal that was blocked but only as far as Joe Evans, who made no mistake in blasting home his first Leigh goal, albeit with the aid of the right-hand post, to put Leigh a goal in front at the break.
Shortly after the hour mark, the hardworking Lawless was brought off for Rick Gleave, with the pacy Gleave having the first genuine chance of a tense second half with twelve minutes remaining when he did well to burst forward past a couple of challenges and release a shot that was palmed wide of goal at the near post by Priestley.
As the game entered it's final stages, Chris Dykes was brought on as a substitute for Paul Hopkins with ten minutes remaining, while Joe Evans talked himself in to a booking for dissent on eighty three minutes.
Having had a largely quiet afternoon, Judge suddenly found himself the centre of attention as Runcorn started to exert pressure on his goal in search of an equaliser, palming the ball wide from an ambitious free kick from distance on eighty four minutes before being called upon to make a fantastic low save from Whyte with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
Leigh were forced to endure an excruciating period of six minutes added on at the end of normal time, but they held firm and were able to celebrate FA Cup progression along with a first competitive victory for manager Mark Maddox.
The victory means Leigh have the chance to renew acquaintances with Vodkat Premier League side Rossendale United, who were relegated from Leigh's league last season but came up with an impressive 5-2 victory over Cammell Laird to qualify for the First Qualifying Round in a tie that is to be played on Saturday 11th September at Rossendale‘s Dark Lane home. Before then, Genesis welcome AFC Fylde to Crilly Park for a Bank Holiday meeting this Monday (30th August, 3pm) before making the short trip to Trafford for a league game on Saturday (4th September, 3pm).
Leigh Genesis; Adam Judge, Scott Sephton, Mark King, James Bell, Kieran Molyneux (Danny Lyons 20), Andy Heald, Paul Hopkins (Chris Dykes 80), Joe Evans, John Lawless (Rick Gleave 66), Nick Eastham, Adam Strode. Subs (not used); Paul Williams, Denis Barlow, Mick Vernon, Simon Pendlebury
| LEIGH GENESIS 1 RUNCORN LINNETS 0 | |
| Date | Saturday 28th August 2010 |
| Venue | Crilly Park, Atherton |
| Attendance | 173 |
| Half time | Leigh Genesis 1 Runcorn Linnets 0 |
| Competition | FA Cup Preliminary Round |
| Scorers | |
| Leigh Genesis | Joe Evans (37) |
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Stumbleupon28/08/2010 17:15
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LG-SA.co.uk
Quote:That's what I meant about writing articles at 2.30am!Hey Up
oh and by the way, who is Kasper Schumacher.....?
LG-SA.co.uk
Quote:Hope it continues over the next few days with our game against Fylde and your replay with Woodley - shall be at both games. It's getting expensive this football lark!Bin Cleaner
Good win for you yesterday, well done
it's bin a couple of good days
LG-SA.co.uk
