Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Leigh Genesis 1

The sending off of Matt Jansen in first half injury time proved vital as Leigh Genesis suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at basement side Harrogate Railway Athletic in a first league game in over a month for Garry Flitcroft's side.

On a heavy pitch that featured a particularly prominent slope, Leigh had the first chance when a long ball from goalkeeper Stephen Drench carried through to Matt Jansen who found himself clear of the home defence but fired his shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area on nine minutes.

The first glimpse of goal for the hosts arrived on fifteen minutes when the ball broke to Liam Gray just outside the penalty area, who unleashed a ferocious strike that flashed wide of the target.

With the game entering stoppage time at the end of the first half, Jansen was shown the red card in a decision that surprised many in the ground after seeming to take exception to a challenge from a Harrogate defender in the corner of the pitch.

Injury forced Chris Page from the field at half-time and he was replaced by Karl Munroe at the heart of the Leigh defence, and it was Garry Flitcroft's ten men that started the second period the brighter as first Jordan Stepien saw a shot expertly tipped wide by James Mann before Jonathan Smith fired straight at the former Leigh goalkeeper when offered a glimpse of goal from the resultant Leigh corner.

Leigh fell behind of fifty four minutes, and it was one almost of their own doing as Stepien was hounded back towards the halfway line as he attempted to retain possession from an attacking position, with the ball going out over the touchline. The throw in was quickly taken in to the path of Paul Stansfield, and his cross from the left hand side of the penalty area was nodded past Stephen Drench by striker Kevin Ryan.

Only three minutes later and Railway missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double their lead when Drench missed a long ball over the defence under a challenge from Aaron Hollingdrake, only for Hollingdrake's shot to go wide of what was a gaping open goal.

Harrogate's wastefulness was punished only five minutes later when Railway centre back Dan Verity headed a dangerous right wing cross from substitute Chris Thompson past his own goalkeeper.

Parity was almost immediately eradicated when Lee Woodyatt was called upon to clear the ball off his line before Jamie Baguley sent a free kick narrowly wide at the other end.

Leigh's defeat was sealed just seven minutes from the end of the game in similar fashion to the first goal as Kevin Ryan headed home his second goal of the afternoon past Drench at the back post.

Leigh have two local away fixtures in the next week as first they travel to Warrington Town on Tuesday (7.45pm kick off) before going to Salford City next Saturday (3pm).

Leigh Genesis; Stephen Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Kris King, Chris Page (Karl Munroe), Jonathan Smith, Jamie Baguley, Jack Dorney (Chris Thompson), Dale Whitham, Jordan Stepien, Matt Jansen, Tom Ince