Leigh Genesis 1 Kendal Town 2

Just as Leigh’s incredible weekend win at FC United of Manchester largely hinged on an early refereeing decision, so to did Kendal’s victory over Leigh at Hurst Cross this evening, though on this occasion it wasn’t to work in Genesis’ favour.

At Gigg Lane on Saturday, referee Mr Copeland awarded a penalty to Leigh within ten seconds of the kick off when Phil Marsh was brought down by a combination of United defender Dave Chadwick and goalkeeper Sam Ashton, but Leigh were left aghast at Hurst Cross as referee Mr Johnson gave Genesis skipper Andy Heald his marching orders barely two minutes in to the game.

Sporting a heavily bruised right eye, the referee ruled that Heald's reaction towards a late tackle from former Leigh team mate George Melling was worthy of a straight red card and a possible three game suspension after Melling remained on the ground and received treatment, although his injuries weren't severe enough to prevent him from completing a full ninety minutes against his former club.

Given their numerical advantage, it was unsurprising that Kendal largely dominated possession, but it was Leigh that had the first genuine opportunity of the game when Phil Marsh, hat trick hero at Gigg Lane, thumped a twenty first minute free kick across the crossbar as he maintained his impressive run of form, despite the attempts on his Kendal markers to almost bully him out of the game.

Although Kendal's Craig Hobson, a former Leigh schoolboy, twice went close in quick succession when his smart strike on the turn was tipped around the post by Danny Morton before heading wide from the resultant corner, Leigh almost took the lead on forty two minutes when Karl Brown's snapshot flew in to the side netting before Scott Sephton's cute twenty five yard shot dipped just over the crossbar.

Heartbreakingly, Leigh found themselves a goal down on the stroke of half-time when, after an attempted Morton clearance struck one of his own players, Genesis struggled to clear their lines with the ball reaching Kendal winger Danny Wisdom on the left flank, who's low cross was slid in to the net by Carl Osman.

The second period saw Leigh throw caution to the wind as they looked for Marsh and strike partner Chris Thompson to make a greater impression on the game, and they did exactly that as Thompson broke free of his marker to lay a lovely through ball for the chasing Marsh to take in to the area, only for Kendal goalkeeper David Newnes to do superbly and bravely claw the ball from Marsh's feet.

Thompson was again at the hub of Leigh's next attack, delivering an inch-perfect right wing cross to the back post that Scott Sephton headed a whisker past the frame of the goal before Marsh again broke free of the defence, with his penalty claims falling on deaf ears when it appeared that he was bundled over by Town defender Jimmy Williams, just as Marsh was preparing to strike at goal.

As was always likely given their extra man and Leigh's desire to push forward, Kendal promptly went to the other end and looked to have clinched all three points on sixty five minutes when Osman's cross was met by Hobson's downward header to beat Morton.

However, with the game edging towards stoppage time, Leigh grabbed a lifeline when a right wing cross was flicked in to the path of Chris Thompson, who headed his third goal in four loan games to renew Genesis hope.

That hope looked to be rewarded as the last gasp when Kyle Lambert's shot from the edge of the area got a heavy deflection, only for Newnes to do well to switch his body position and desperately claw the ball from in front of the line.

Unfortunately, time just about ran out for Leigh but one can't help but wonder what the result may have been had Lee Merricks' side enjoyed the full compliment of players for the full ninety minutes. As it is, Leigh travel over the Pennines on Saturday to face Leeds-based Guiseley (3pm kick off) before another ‘Roses' encounter against Ossett Town on Tuesday (7:45pm kick off).

Leigh Genesis; Danny Morton, Chris Page, Richmond Botchey (Dale Whitham), Alex Cunliffe, Andy Heald, Ben McHugh, Kyle Lambert, Karl Brown (David Hill), Chris Thompson, Phil Marsh, Scott Sephton