Cammell Laird 0 Leigh Genesis 0

OTHER results meant that Leigh returned to the foot of the Evo-Stik League First Division North table on Saturday.

But Alan Kershaw's side can be pleased with their point at Cammell Laird, albeit in a game that they may have won on another occasion.

For the second game in succession, Leigh were a cutting edge away from collecting all three points after their goalless draw in midweek with Lancaster City, and the same frustration continued in Wirral as Genesis struggled to find the goal that they deserved.

In the only change from Tuesday's Crilly Park draw with Lancaster, John Hedges was handed a full debut playing just behind front man Stuart Rudd while hosts Cammell Laird featured ex-Leigh players Lee Atherton and Jamie Henders.

Leigh had the best openings of the first half with two chances in two minutes falling at the feet of John Hedges when first he saw a twenty second minute shot nudged wide by goalkeeper Phil Palethorpe before going clean through on goal and lifted the ball over Palethorpe only for the ball to drift wide of the post.

In a similar fashion to almost snatching a win against Lancaster on Tuesday, Leigh were within a matter of inches of taking on thirty seven minutes when Stuart Rudd turned his marker and dinked the ball past Palethorpe only for the retreating Atherton to hack the ball off the line to stop his former club from taking a half-time lead.

Dale McDonald was introduced to the field for Marvin McDonald early in the second half and he produced a chance of seventy four minutes when he found Dave Dempsey at the back post only for his shot to flash narrowly wide of the target before Rudd beat Palethorpe to the ball on the edge of the area with only ten minutes left only to lob the ball marginally over the crossbar.

Genesis goalkeeper Phil Priestley had to remain alert to keep out a handful of Lairds attempt but Leigh squandered arguably the best chance of the game as the clock ticked towards ninety minutes when Steve Smith found himself with a clear view of the goal on the edge of the penalty area but fired over the crossbar.

Leigh's next outing comes on Tuesday (8th March) when local rivals Prescot Cables are the visitors to Crilly Park for a 7.45pm kick off before a home game against fellow strugglers Harrogate Railway Athletic (12th March, 3pm).

Leigh Genesis; Phil Priestley, Rob Flint, Scott Sephton, Steve Ferrigan, Alex Grisedale, Dave Dempsey, Steve Smith, John Hedges (Neil Smith 80), Stuart Rudd, Marvin McDonald (Dale McDonald 53), Connor Millington. Subs (not used); David Webb, Adam Parkhouse, Jack Smith