NINE-man Leigh Genesis enjoyed a breathtaking last-minute win over Rossendale in the FA Cup last week.

A dramatic Rick Greave winner deep in stoppage time saw Genesis through to the second qualifying round of the historic competition.

Genesis boss Mark Maddox was understandably delighted with his side’s dramatic win.

He said: “I thought the lads came up with a good performance in very difficult circumstances, and the late winner was testament to the hard work they put in.

“Huge credit must go to the lads for not giving up when Rossendale equalised and getting what I felt was a deserved winner.”

Leigh were 1-0 up within minutes of starting the game, as Adam Strode’s cross found Nick Eastham to head home his first Genesis goal.

The hosts equalised on 31 minutes when Daniel Doherty beat the Leigh offside trap to cross for Jason Hart to level the scores at the break.

Leigh restored their lead within three minutes of the restart, after Eastham grabbed a second goal when an Andy Heald strike was parried into his path by the Rossendale goalkeeper.

Leigh secured a two-goal cushion on 61 minutes when a Paul Williams cross found John Lawless to head home his third goal in successive games.

All hell broke loose with 20 minutes remaining, as Leigh lost two players when Paul Hopkins and John Lawless were sent off following an argument with the referee.

Rossendale took full advantage of the two-man difference and drew level in the final ten minutes to leave the result in the air.

However, the drama was not finished when, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, debutant Brodie Kearns laid the ball off for fellow substitute Rick Gleave to smash the ball home and seal a remarkable win for nine man Genesis to secure progress to the next round of the competition and prize money of £3,000 to go alongside the £2,000 already gained for the win over Runcorn Linnets at Crilly Park in the previous round.

Leigh now face an away tie against Teesside-based Norton and Stockton Ancients in the second qualifying round,which will take place at their home venue of Norton (Teesside) Sports Complex in Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday, September 25, 3pm kick off.

That is after a league visit to Witton Albion next Saturday, September 18, kick off 3pm.

Leigh Genesis: Adam Judge, Adam Strode (Brodie Kearns 90), Paul Williams, Kieran Molyneux, James Bell, Rowan Garnett, Paul Hopkins, Joe Evans (James Olsen 86), John Lawless, Andy Heald, Nick Eastham (Rick Gleave 52).