By Matt Lawton
November 20 2010

Visitors Clitheroe maintained their race up the Evo-Stik League First Division North table with three points that puts them in to second position behind leaders Chester, but hosts Leigh Genesis were unlucky not to gain at least a point from the encounter with a much improved performance.

Having lost to basement rivals Cammell Laird in midweek, Genesis boss Mark Maddox rang the changes, with striker Mick Vernon handed a full debut, while Jack Burke made his full home debut and youth team graduate Steve Ferrigan retained his place in the side, while visitors Clitheroe fielded ex-Leigh front man Mark Jackson and former Lowton High School pupil Danny Williams on the left flank.

Going in to the game on the back of an unbeaten away run that stretches to early September, Clitheroe predictably dominated the early exchanges but found themselves a goal behind after thirty one minutes with a goal of real quality from Leigh. Steve Ferrigan chipped the ball in to the area and it was met by the stretching John Lawless, who made no mistake in catching the ball on the volley and lobbing goalkeeper Danny McDonald for his eighth goal of the season.

However, only five minutes passed for Leigh's celebrations to be quickly dampened when the visitors drew level in disappointing circumstances when Tom Williams was left unmarked at the back post to head home a corner past Genesis goalkeeper Adam Judge.

Leigh came within a whisker of taking the lead for a second time on thirty nine minutes when winger Paul Hopkins rattled a strike against the crossbar from inside the area, and they were left to rue that bad luck just two minutes before the break when Joe Roberts slotted the ball in to the corner of the net after the original Clitheroe attempt had been cleared off the line.

Genesis struck the woodwork for a second time in the second half through Tony Rendell, but they were unable to find an equaliser and instead left to rue their bad luck in front of goal.

Maddox's side have a free midweek before welcoming Woodley Sports to Crilly Park for a third successive home game next Saturday (27th November, 3pm).

Leigh Genesis; Adam Judge, Danny Lyons, Gary Scott, Tony Rendell, Adam Farley (Scott Sephton 46), Steve Ferrigan, Paul Hopkins (Rick Gleave 84), Rowan Garnett, John Lawless, Mick Vernon, Jack Burke (Brodie Kearns 46). Subs (not used); Nick Eastham, Andy Heald