Leigh Genesis UniBond Premier League status hanging by a thread after heavy defeat to Buxton

2:22pm Tuesday 14th April 2009

By Matt Lawton

LEIGH Genesis’ UniBond Premier League status is hanging by a thread after their unbeaten run of four games came crashing to a halt with a humiliating defeat to Buxton in a fixture played at Warrington Town’s Cantilever Park home.

Genesis had enjoyed a terrific start to their Easter programme with Jordan Stepien scoring a last minute winning goal to secure a 2-1 victory away to North Ferriby United and continue Garry Flitcroft’s unbeaten start to management, but with regular goalkeeper Stephen Drench injured, Leigh youngster Dean Porter endured a torrid afternoon in the Leigh goal.

The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when they were awarded a controversial free kick on the edge of the area that was duly dispatched in to the top corner of the net in spectacular fashion by striker Gavin Knight.

Although Buxton struck Porter’s right hand post with a Michael Towey half-volley, Leigh were still in the game at a goal down and twice came close to equalising through Neil Zarak, first when he received the ball by a fortunate rebound that saw his low shot saved by goalkeeper Scott Hartley, before poking the ball narrowly wide of the target after Kris King did well to overlap Tom Ince and deliver a low cross.

Leigh’s hopes of a comeback hit a huge stumbling block on 37 minutes when Terry Bowker forced home a Scott Maxfield corner at the back post, with Buxton going three goals in front just five minutes later when Mark Reed latched on to a long ball from defence and delivered a lovely lob over Porter and into the net.

The second half began in similarly disastrous fashion, with Buxton scoring a fourth goal within three minutes of the restart when James Thurley’s tame shot slipped horribly through Porter’s hands and over the line.

Tom Ince came close for Genesis when his shot was palmed away by Hartley, agonisingly just inches in front of Stepien’s follow-up.

The one-way traffic was resumed on 55 minutes when Gregg Anderson headed in Thurley’s corner at the back post, six minutes before Reed scored his second of the afternoon in almost identical fashion as his first, beating the Leigh offside trap before landing a beautiful lob over Porter into the net.

The rout was completed on 73 minutes when Michael Towey’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected past Porter.

Genesis now find themselves seven points from safety with three games remaining, and therefore requiring nothing less than victory from Saturday’s game against Matlock Town at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

Leigh Genesis: Dean Porter, Paul Howarth (Richmond Botchey), Kris King, Andy Heald, Jonathan Smith, Chris Page, Tom Ince, Karl Brown, Jordan Stepien, Neil Zarak (Dale Whitham), Jack Dorney (Chris Thompson).