Leigh Genesis 4 AFC Fylde 1

The heavy snowfall was no match for the LSV's undersoil heating, and visitors AFC Fylde were no match for a rampant Genesis, who had no problem in securing a comfortable victory that keeps them in sight of the play-off positions.

On an afternoon where the fixture programme was almost completely decimated, the undersoil heating at the Sports Village meant that the Leigh fixture was one of only two to go ahead in the entire league, and they didn't disappoint with what become a resounding victory over mid-table AFC Fylde.

Early signs didn't exactly point to such an emphatic scoreline, with the visitors going close with the first chance of the game when the commanding figure of Fylde centre back Farrell Kilbane was left unmarked close to the penalty spot from a corner but thumped his header over the bar, while ex-Leigh man Danny Penswick also missed an opportunity from a corner.

Kris King came a fraction from giving Leigh the lead on twelve minutes, collecting the ball at an acute angle on the left hand side of the penalty area after the bounce had deceived both Jordan Stepien and opposition goalkeeper Dave Stephenson, only for left back King to roll his shot right across the face of goal.

Jordan Stepien was a whisker away from hitting the target on sixteen minutes, but his header from an inswinging Dorney cross brushed past the far post.

Stepien wasn't to be denied, however, and he put Leigh in front on twenty three minutes, firing low in to an empty net after the goalkeeper had been caught out by a Dorney shot that had been deflected high in to the air.

Leigh's lead was double just three minutes later when Stepien laid the ball off on the right hand side for Dorney to cut inside and curl a beautiful shot in to the top corner of the net that gave the goalkeeper no chance from the edge of the penalty area.

Fylde seemed likely to at least trouble Drench when Mark Wane looked to cross from the right hand side to the unmarked Matt Walwyn in front of goal, but Chris Page was in the perfect position to slide in and get a vital challenge in to deflect the cross away for a corner kick

With ten minutes of the first half still remaining, Genesis had the three points in the bag when, after fifty three appearances, Page found himself a hero at the other end when he finally scored his first goal for the club, picking up the pieces in the six yard box to hook home after Stepien had seen his attempt blocked on the line.

On thirty eight minutes, Genesis almost had a fourth when Stepien crossed to the back post for Jamie Baguley to fire an almost nonchalant volley that clipped the outside of Stephenson's right hand post.

The second half began with Leigh determined for more goals, and they came close almost immediately when Stephenson did well to palm away a Jamie Baguley free kick from the edge of the area after a heavy Kilbane challenge had felled Stepien.

Dorney was keen for a second goal of the afternoon was denied only by the legs of Stephenson after the Leigh winger had cleverly dummied on to his right foot to create enough space for a shot, before Andy Heald hit a wayward shot across the face of goal.

Youngster Dale Whitham was once again in imperious form in the centre of midfield, and he played a delightful ball to slice open the Fylde defence to free Dorney on goal, but he maybe took the wrong option in trying to chip the goalkeeper rather than place it past him, and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.

By this stage, Leigh were playing the passing brand of attacking football that is quickly becoming their trademark, and a smart ball from substitute Tom Ince allowed Whitham to lay the ball off for Heald to crack a shot that was expertly tipped away by Stephenson.

A little over a month since leaving Leigh for league rivals Salford City, Chris Baguley re-signed for the club earlier this week, and he made his return in familiar fashion, coming off the bench for Stepien and quickly finding himself on the scoresheet to maintain his joint position with Stepien at the top of the goalscoring charts, sliding home his twelvth goal of the season on eighty six minutes after Stephenson had failed to keep hold of Ince's stinging twenty five yard drive.

The Leigh defence fell asleep a minute in to added on time and allowed a long ball to be slotted past Stephen Drench by Scott Harries, but it was little more than a consolation for the visitors as recorded another high-scoring victory.

Leigh's next two games are both scheduled to take place at Warrington Town's Cantilever Park ground. With the LSV Stadium unavailable, Leigh take on Skelmersdale United at Warrington on Boxing Day, before Genesis travel to take on Wire on New Years' Day.

Leigh Genesis; Stephen Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Kris King, Chris Page, Jonathan Smith (Mark Ross), Steve Flitcroft, Jack Dorney, Dale Whitham, Jordan Stepien (Chris Baguley), Jamie Baguley (Tom Ince), Andy Heald