Leigh Genesis 2 Garforth Town 1

Leigh Genesis quickly recovered from the setback of Monday’s first league defeat of the season at Curzon Ashton by claiming all three points in their first Leigh Sports Village Stadium game of the season, but it wasn’t without its challenges as they held off a spirited comeback from their Yorkshire visitors.

Garry Flitcroft's Genesis side got off to the perfect start with only six minutes on the clock when Jordan Stepien grabbed his second goal in three games, smartly converting a Chris Baguley cross.

The hosts were largely dominating the half and doubled their lead three minutes before the break when former FC United of Manchester man Chris Baguley continued his incredible start to the season, maintaining his goal-a-game start to his Genesis career with a goal of the season contender, beautifully lifting the ball over Garforth goalkeeper Tom Morgan to give Genesis a two goal lead at the break.

However, the Brazil yellow-clad came out a different side in the second period and were in charge for much of the half as they attempted to forge a route through to Stephen Drench's goal.

Leigh's defence held firm, but it was only a matter of time before the visitors found themselves on the scoresheet, although they managed it only in bizarre fashion on sixty four minutes when Drench did well in a brave challenge to beat Tom Greaves to the ball, only for his clearance to land at the feet of winger Mark Piper, who lofted the ball in to the empty net from thirty five yards out.

Garforth continued to mount pressure on the Leigh goal and looked set to equalise with only a matter of minutes remaining with Greaves about to pull the trigger from inside the six yard, but not expecting a charging challenge from midfielder Andy Heald, who virtually saved the three points for Leigh in that tackle alone.

Garforth threw everything at the Leigh goal and even had goalkeeper Morgan inside the penalty area as they won a late corner, but Leigh won through by the skin of their teeth to claim six points from a possible nine in their first three games of the season.

Leigh now travel to Lancaster on Tuesday (25th August, 7:45pm kick off) evening before beginning the road to Wembley with an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie away to league rivals Warrington Town on Friday 28th August at 7:45pm.

Leigh Genesis; Stephen Drench, Chris Page, Kris King, Karl Munroe, Jonathan Smith, Andy Heald, Jack Dorney, Stephen Flitcroft, Jordan Stepien (Chris Thompson), Chris Baguley (Matt Jansen), Tom Ince (Gomez Dahl)