12:15pm Thursday 25th February 2010
By Matt Lawton
Leigh Genesis.........................4 Rossendale United..................3
A DAZZLING Matt Jansen hat-trick saw Leigh Genesis edge a midweek thriller against strugglers Rossendale United to claim their second win in four days in UniBond League First Division North.
Leigh took the lead at Victory Park after seven minutes when youngster Richard Ratcliffe scored his first goal for the club, before Jansen claimed his first on 21 minutes.
Sam Heap halved the deficit on the half hour mark.
An epic comeback was on the cards on 52 minutes when Ryan Wilkinson equalised for Rossendale before an unlikely victory seemed on the cards when Matt Walsh gave United the lead for the first time on 61 minutes.
However, Jansen had other ideas and the ex-England man scored two goals in two minutes to edge a thrilling encounter.
Wakefield................................2 Leigh Genesis.........................2
AN epic late comeback saw Leigh Genesis come from two goals down with eight minutes remaining to claim a point from an enthralling encounter with West Yorkshire hosts Wakefield.
After a thrilling 4-3 midweek win over Rossendale United that featured a Matt Jansen hat trick, Genesis boss Garry Flitcroft made just one change with left back Kris King being left on the substitutes bench and Chris Page being moved back in to defence to allow the return from ESFA England u18 duty of midfielder Dale Whitham.
On a bright winter's afternoon over the Pennines, the hosts had the first chance of the game on four minutes when Chris Howarth saw a shot tipped around the far post by Stephen Drench after the Wakefield skipper had made a break down the right hand side.
Leigh's first glimpse of goal arrived on 24 minutes when neat play between Jack Dorney and Richard Ratcliffe finished with the latter flashing a shot narrowly over the crossbar.
Genesis came within a whisker of taking the lead just three minutes into the second half when Wakefield goalkeeper Jan Zolna had to be at his best to tip a Steve Flitcroft strike around the post.
Two minutes later and Leigh had the first of several penalty claims turned down when a Dale Whitham cross appeared to be handled away for a corner by centre back Marc Roberts.
Zolna impressed again on fifty four minutes when a Matt Jansen header from a curling Flitcroft cross seemed to be heading for the back of the net, only for Zolna to superbly claw the ball off the line.
Wakefield took the lead on 67 minutes from the penalty spot after Karl Munroe was ruled to have pushed Tom Denton when challenging for a Mark Wilson corner.
That lead was doubled on 72 minutes when another Wilson corner led to the goal, this time seeing Denton volley the ball past Drench.
Leigh were given hope on 82 minutes when they halved the deficit.
Matt Jansen diverted a Lee Woodyatt cross past Zolna via a deflection from Wakefield defender Craig Laight for his fourth goal in two games.
This prompted a barrage of attacks and Leigh's pressure was rewarded as the game headed into injury time, as Andy Heald did well to find enough space in a crowded penalty area to turn towards goal and emphatically thump the ball past Zolna for a joyous equaliser.
Leigh Genesis:Stephen Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Chris Page, Mark Ross, Karl Munroe, Andy Heald, Dale Whitham (Chris Dykes), Steve Flitcroft, Richard Ratcliffe (Ilie Morariu), Matt Jansen, Jack Dorney.
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