Atherstone Town 1 Leigh Genesis 3
By Matt Lawton
October 17 2009
A Tom Ince hat trick helped Leigh Genesis overcome a horror start and return from Warwickshire with prize money of £2,300 and a place in the FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round after a comfortable victory over hosts Atherstone.
Having fallen at the first hurdle in both the FA Cup and UniBond League President's Cup so far this season, Leigh were hoping for a little more success in the FA Trophy, but that certainly didn't look on the cards within seven minutes of kick off on a bright day in the Midlands as the hosts flew in to the lead, Grant Roscorla sweeping the ball past Stephen Drench after the Leigh defence had failed to properly clear a cross in to the box.
If Leigh were looking for a wake-up call, the goal certainly provided one and they dominated virtually the entire game thereafter, having their first chance on sixteen minutes when Tom Ince latched on to a delightful Matt Jansen ball before turning full back Stuart Hendrie inside out, only to fluff his lines and fire over the bar when presented with a clear view of goal.
Two minutes later and Atherstone were indebted to goalkeeper Dave Clarke for keeping them in front as he made a world-class save low down to his right hand side from a Jansen header, with Steve Flitcroft managing only to send the rebound over the crossbar.
Clarke proved his worth once again just a minute later, and in unlikely circumstances as he was forced in to making a terrific tipped save from his own man, Shawn Boothe, after the Adders centre back had met a wonderfully teasing Ince cross.
With the game nearing the halfway point, Leigh were back on level terms with a goal almost out of nothing as Ince finally got the goal he deserved, showing a great sense of anticipation to get a yard in front of his marker before beautifully lobbing a shell-shocked Clarke from twenty yards out.
Ince was involved again with five minutes remaining, crossing from the left for Jordan Stepien to see his low shot saved by Clarke's legs, before Leigh got their noses in front with just two minutes of the half remaining when Ince notched his second of the afternoon with a great angled finish when through on goal.
The second half followed much the same pattern as Leigh pushed forward in search of a third goal. Jamie Baguley saw a free kick brush both the head of Stepien and Clarke's right hand post, before Ince got a deserved hat trick to effectively kill the game off on 63 minutes, racing towards goal and finishing coolly beneath Clarke after Kris King had played a clever ball down the left hand touchline.
With the margin all the more comfortable, and three substitutions made in the Genesis side, Atherstone began to enjoy their best spell of the game without ever specifically threatening Drench's goal, with the best chance of the remainder of the game falling the way of Leigh substitute Andy Heald, who stung Clarke's hands with a rasping right footed shot from the edge of the area with his first touch of the game after a corner had been cleared in to his path.
Leigh managed to see out the rest of the game in relative ease and will now eagerly await Monday's draw, where they will hope to receive a favourable tie and potentially face a Blue Square North side should they reach the Third Qualifying Round.
Genesis are back in league action after their recent cup activities on Tuesday evening when they travel to Clitheroe for a 7:45pm kick off, before Mossley visit the Leigh Sports Village Stadium next Saturday (24th October) at 3pm.
Leigh Genesis; Stephen Drench, Chris Page (David Gbemie), Kris King, Karl Munroe, Jonathan Smith, Jamie Baguley, Jack Dorney, Steve Flitcroft, Jordan Stepien, Matt Jansen (Chris Baguley), Tom Ince (Andy Heald)
| ATHERSTONE TOWN 1 LEIGH GENESIS 3 | |
| Date | Saturday 17th October 2009 |
| Venue | Sheepy Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire |
| Attendance | 195 |
| Half time | Atherstone Town 1 Leigh Genesis 2 |
| Competition | FA Trophy First Qualifying Round |
| Scorers | |
| Atherstone Town | Grant Roscorla (7) |
| Leigh Genesis | Tom Ince (28, 43, 63) |
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The one the only Samantha Teri proud Genite and secret blonde
Quote:More mess to be cleaned up!Samantha Teri
although as much as I feel guilty I wet my pants
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:10:17:22:56:53 by Red City Leyther.
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Current hat tricks are; Chris Baguley (vs Atherton LR), Stepien (vs Prescot), Chris Thompson (vs Warrington) and Tom Ince (vs Atherstone) by my reckoning?
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