Leigh Genesis vs. Witton Albion preview

With the new Leigh Sports Village Stadium unavailable for use, Warrington Town's Cantilever Park home provides the venue on Boxing Day as Genesis take on strugglers Witton Albion, Leigh's first UniBond Premier League fixture for almost a month and a half.

Although Lee Merricks' young side have played two County Cup games in recent weeks, a 2-0 win and 3-2 defeat against Atherton Collieries and Radcliffe Borough respectively, Leigh have incredibly been without a league fixture since November 15th when, in only his second game in charge, Merricks' side claimed a terrific 2-2 draw from Whitby Town.

Since that fixture, Malta Under 21 international Richard Chetcuti has completed a full ninety minutes in the defeat to Radcliffe, and will be hoping to return to league action on Boxing Day, while Steve Settle and Ross Thaker both made their Leigh debuts, albeit a second one for Settle, at Radcliffe on Monday evening, with both hoping to play a part against their former club.

The sides last met in October when Leigh ran out 3-1 victors at Wincham Park, though of the Leigh side that day, only substitute Chris McCaughtrie remains at the club, though striker Mark Smyth and defender Paul Booth, both Leigh players at the time, have both joined Albion in recent weeks, making for an intriguing contest with midfielder Scott Willis another former Leigh player.

Visitors Witton, who have somewhat shedded many of their ex-Leigh contingent with Steve Brockley and Mark Drew turning out for Radcliffe against Leigh earlier in the week, have been in mixed form in recent weeks, on the wrong end of a 4-1 thumping at home to Bradford Park Avenue last weekend, having previously recorded league and League Cup victories over Cammell Laird in successive games.

Leigh last played at Cantilever Park in a friendly in the summer, but anybody who hasn't visited the ground previously should take note that the ground is situated in the Latchford area of Warrington, 1 mile down the A49 from junction 9 on the M62, off Loushers Lane, with kick off at 3pm.