Leigh Genesis 0 Eastwood Town 4

Ten man Eastwood Town underlined their UniBond Premier League promotion credentials by passing a stern test from Lee Merricks' young Genesis side by scoring four goals in the final twenty minutes at Clitheroe's Shawbridge ground.

On a particularly breezy Lancastrian afternoon at Shawbridge, Leigh's sixth ‘home' venue of the season, visitors Eastwood twice hit the woodwork, first through a Paul Robinson header and secondly a speculative Alister Asher cross-cum-shot, in the opening forty five minutes whilst also having an Ian Holmes strike chalked off for offside on thirty two minutes.

However, despite having only a fraction of the possession, Leigh had chances of their own and might have taken the lead on twenty four minutes had impressive striker Phil Marsh not seen his shot tipped away by Shane Redmond when one-on-one with the Eastwood goalkeeper, while some enterprising link-up play between Alex Cunliffe and Marsh twice created promising openings for winger Steve Settle.

Marsh was a pivotal figure in Leigh's 3-1 extra time defeat to Ashton United in the UniBond League Challenge Cup on Monday, and it was to be a similar situation against Eastwood as his side looked more of a threat going forward in the second half, with the youngster beating two men whilst cutting inside from the right flank before his low shot was saved by Redmond.

On fifty four minutes, it looked as though the game might tip in the favour of the hosts when Marsh broke clear on goal, only to be hauled back by centre half Paul Robinson, who was eventually given his marching orders by referee Mr. Dowd, who seemed to take an age to make his decision.

Having sent on forward Lindon Meikle at half-time, Eastwood had to rearrange somewhat and were left with three defenders playing at the back, but Leigh failed to take the initiative and as such it was the visitors who went ahead on seventy minutes when Ian Holmes was allowed a free header in the centre of the goal, albeit from a seemingly offside position, to nod past Danny Morton after a right wing cross had been headed back across the goalmouth by front man Matt Rhead.

Less than a minute later, and the Badgers tied up the victory when Meikle slid a cross past Morton, six minutes before Holmes grabbed his second, breaking clear of the defence and making no mistake in slotting the ball past Morton.

The rout was somewhat harshly completed with four minutes remaining when substitute Peter Knox chested the ball down on the edge of the box and delivered a rocket of a shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance of saving it.

The difference in finishing between the two sides was summed up in the closing stages when Leigh, with their side once again having an average age in the late-teens, came within a whisker of pulling a goal back when Marsh half-volleyed a terrific Mark Radcliffe cross against the post.

Although the scoreline would suggest a heavy defeat for Leigh, it certainly wasn't the type of result that such a valiant display would ordinarily deserve, with a positive result surely not too far on the horizon if such a standard of performance is maintained, starting with the game at local rivals Prescot Cables on Tuesday evening.

Leigh Genesis; Danny Morton, Mark Radcliffe, Kris King, Chris Page, Ben McHugh (Nia Bayunu), David Hill (Scott Sephton), Dale Whitham (Sam Parkinson), Nick Linford, Phil Marsh, Alex Cunliffe, Steve Settle

• The Leigh Genesis Supporters Association are running a coach trip to this Saturday's (24th January) away fixture to Matlock Town. Seats cost £14 each, with further information available by e-mailing awaytravel@lg-sa.co.uk.