3:29pm Thursday 18th February 2010
By Matt Lawton
Clitheroe 3 Leigh Genesis 1
LEIGH Genesis’ dreams of a money-spinning Lancashire Trophy Final at the Reebok Stadium were cruelly ended at Leyland’s County Ground last Wednesday.
Having run out 2-1 victors when the sides met earlier in the season, Garry Flitcroft’s Leigh side were confident of clinching a berth in the Lancashire Co-Operative Challenge Trophy Final, one that would generate thousands of pounds for the financially-hit club.
Andy Heald had an early Leigh opportunity, dragging his shot wide of the far post, before Genesis saw a goal controversially chalked off by the flag of referee's assistant Natalie Walker on 18 minutes.
Leigh were left to rue that offside decision six minutes later when Nathan Taylor crossed from the right hand side for former Lowton High School pupil Danny Williams to nudge the ball into the back of the net at the back post.
Karl Munroe headed a Tom Ince corner wide of the target on 26 minutes and it was to be from an Ince set piece that Leigh levelled the scores on 35 minutes as the winger curled in a free kick for Heald to head home.
However, Clitheroe mounted a counter attack in first-half stoppage time that ended with Alan Coar sending Stephen Drench the wrong way and slotting in.
The game became more physical in the second half and Leigh were often struggling to break through a resolute defence.
Ince flew past two challenges but was hacked down by Jonathan Forbes as he looked set to deliver a cross before substitute Liam McManus, Forbes' replacement, survived some strong penalty claims after seeming to nudge the ball back to his goalkeeper with his hand.
McManus' contribution was to prove pivotal as he secured his side's passage to Bolton on 73 minutes, sending a thumping header past Drench from a right wing corner..
Leigh Genesis: Stephen Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Kris King (Mark Ross), Chris Page, Karl Munroe, Andy Heald, Jack Dorney, Steve Flitcroft (Ilie Morariu), Jordan Stepien (Richard Ratcliffe), Dale Whitham, Tom Ince.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.leighjournal.co.uk/trade_directory/