Leigh Genesis vs. Runcorn Linnets preview
By Matt Lawton
August 26 2010
Leigh Genesis begin the road to Wembley on Saturday afternoon when they take part in the FA Cup for the first time this season when Vodkat Premier League side Runcorn Linnets are the visitors to Crilly Park for a Preliminary Round tie.
In that particular tie, the two sides drew 1-1 in the original fixture at Runcorn's new Millbank Linnets Stadium, with Runcorn winning a thrilling replay 4-3 three days later at Brantingham Road, but it wasn't enough for Wilkes to save his job, with a statement on Runcorn's official website listing ‘patchy and inconsistent performances' as the reasons for the club parting company with Wilkes.
One familiar name in the Runcorn line-up is striker Ged Courtney, who was one of the goalscorers when Leigh last sealed a piece of silverware after they defeated Kendal Town 2-0 at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground in the Lancashire FA Trophy Final of April 2003.
The fixture marks the first meeting between Leigh and the new Runcorn club, although Leigh, then still known as Leigh RMI, took on the old Runcorn club in an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie nearly fourteen years ago in front of an attendance of over 900 at Hilton Park in October 1996, with the visitors running out 4-2 victors, a game that will feature in greater detail in Saturday's match programme, priced just £2 and on sale at Crilly Park on matchday.
After falling to their second successive league defeat at the start of the Evo-Stik League Division One North campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Wakefield in midweek, Genesis welcome Runcorn to Crilly Park in the hope of sealing not only their first victory of the season, but also a cheque of £1,500 that would be more than welcome for virtually any club at this level.
Genesis boss Mark Maddox is still likely to be without midfielder Paul Williams, who picked up an injury on his league debut in last weekend's 2-1 home defeat to Curzon Ashton, though player/coach Andy Heald made his first appearance of the season as a substitute at Wakefield on Tuesday night in a game that saw Kieran Molyneux sent off for a second bookable offence.
Leigh will be hoping for better luck than recent FA Cup campaigns, where last season they fell at the first hurdle with a 1-0 defeat away to league rivals Warrington Town. Remarkably, Leigh's last FA Cup victory remarkably came as long as nearly five years ago when goals from Chris Simm, Neil Smith and Lee Thompson gave Leigh a 3-1 victory away to Chester-le-Street Town at the Second Qualifying Round stage, a record that Leigh will be looking to set straight on Saturday.
Kick off at Crilly Park on Saturday is at 3pm, with admission costing £7 for adults, £5 for over 65's and students and just £2 for under 18's. As this fixture is a league game, season tickets are invalid and all supporters will need the appropriate admission cost on the turnstile and match programmes available at just £2 each.
Before then, ground mates Atherton Laburnum Rovers have an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie of their own when Leigh's league rivals Woodley Sports are the visitors to Crilly Park on Friday evening for a 7.45pm kick off, with admission costing £7 for adults and £4 for concessions.
Should Saturday's fixture end in a draw after ninety minutes, a replay will take place at the Millbank Linnets Stadium on Tuesday 31st August with a 7.45pm kick off, with the league fixture against AFC Fylde to be re-scheduled as a result.
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Quote:No didn't, it mentions it just below the admission pricesHey Up
Hey Matt I think you forgot to mention that programmes would be on sale on match day and would cost £2.
LG-SA.co.uk
Quote:Will make sure it gets plenty of plugs for tomorrow then!Hey Up
gerraway, and only there.....??
Feedback is always appreciated, but that doesn't mean you should go hunting for mistakes, as it turns out from yesterday's programme that writing articles at 2.30am isn't a good idea!
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