Leigh Genesis 4 Skelmersdale United 1

A scintillating display of attacking football saw Leigh Genesis recover from a goal down to secure a resounding victory over league rivals Skelmersdale United, earning a place in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round and a cheque for £3,000.

However, things didn't exactly go to plan for the home side as they fell behind with just two minutes on the clock when Karl Munroe failed to clear a cross from the right hand side, allowing Mark Houghton to beat Drench from close range.

Skem, who lie just one place above Genesis in the UniBond League First Division North table, continued to put the Leigh goal under pressure, and twice the hosts were thankful for the intervention of Drench, keeping his side in the game with two smart saves from Houghton and Ryan Wade.

That wave of pressure was seen off by Leigh, and they were back on level terms on twenty one minutes when Jordan Stepien fired home his eighth goal of the season via the post.

If Skem were the dominant side in the first half, then the final forty five minutes belonged to Leigh, and they were in front on fifty eight minutes when Tom Ince swept the ball in to an empty net, capitilising on the failure of Skelmersdale goalkeeper Ryan McMahon to collect a cross in to the area.

Some breathing space was earned on seventy five minutes when Jamie Baguley fired a rocket in to the net for his fourth goal for the club, before Jack Dorney completed the rout with five minutes remaining with a shot from the left hand side of the area.

Genesis now find themselves in the hat for the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round, where they face a potential tie with a Blue Square North side in a draw that will be conducted via the FA's website on Monday afternoon.

Leigh's next encounter sees them in cup action once again when they make the short trip to face Bryn-based Ashton Athletic in a Lancashire FA Co-Operative Challenge Trophy Second Round tie at Brocstedes Park.

Leigh Genesis; Stephen Drench, Scott Sephton, Kris King (Mark Ross), Karl Munroe, Chris Page, Jamie Baguley, Jack Dorney, Steven Flitcroft (Dale Whitham), Jordan Stepien, Chris Thompson (Chris Baguley), Tom Ince. Subs not used; Jonathan Smith, Ilie Ovidiu Morariu