2:53pm Monday 20th April 2009
By Matt Lawton
Leigh Genesis 0 Matlock Town 2
LEIGH Genesis’ brave battle against relegation from the UniBond Premier League finally came to its conclusion in front of more than 400 spectators at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium on Saturday afternoon as visitors Matlock Town secured their own safety with a goal in each half.
With only three games of the season remaining prior to the Derbyshire side’s visit to Lancashire, Garry Flitcroft’s Leigh side were facing a huge battle to haul themselves from second bottom in the UniBond Premier League table, with an Easter Monday defeat to Buxton putting an end to an impressive four-game unbeaten run.
With goalkeeper Stephen Drench still sidelined with an injury picked up in the 2-1 Good Friday win away to North Ferriby United, teenager Dean Porter continued in goal, while right back Richmond Botchey returned to the starting line up, with Steven Flitcroft making his full debut for the club.
Needing a win if they were to have any hope of continuing their brave fight against the drop, Genesis started by far the brighter and came close to taking the lead on several occasions during the opening exchanges, with Steven Flitcroft sending a twenty five yard strike narrowly wide and Jack Dorney seeing a mazy run halted by Lee Featherstone, while the visiting defence struggled to deal with a succession of Leigh corners.
However, Matlock grew in confidence as the half wore on and, having earlier had a goal disallowed for offside, Ross Hannah put Matlock in front on forty one minutes with a measured strike from an acute angle after Porter had failed to claim a corner kick in his penalty area.
The Leythers had their first chance of the second half when Ashley Foyle was alert enough to beat Tom Ince to a Jordan Stepien cross and head it over the crossbar after the latter had done well to skip past goalkeeper Paul Pettinger.
Matlock sealed victory on seventy four minutes when Steve Warne’s low cross was swept in to the net by Danny Wood. Leigh had a goal disallowed two minutes later when Ince was ruled offside after heading in a Paul Howarth free kick, but the visitors celebrated three points that guarantees their UniBond Premier League safety, whilst also condemning Genesis to UniBond League Division One football next season.
Genesis face Bradford Park Avenue at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium on Tuesday evening in their final home fixture of the season before the final game of a long campaign sees a visit to Hednesford Town on Saturday afternoon (25th April, 3pm).
Leigh Genesis: Dean Porter, Richmond Botchey (Paul Howarth), Kris King (Steve Settle), Andy Heald, Jonathan Smith, Chris Page, Tom Ince, Karl Brown, Jordan Stepien, Steven Flitcroft, Jack Dorney.
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