By Matt Lawton
September 23 2009

A remarkable four goals from Chris Thompson saw Leigh Genesis overcome a horror start to run out emphatic victors over neighbours Warrington Town, Leigh’s FA Cup conquerors of last month, in the UniBond League Challenge Cup First Round at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

Such a scoreline barely seemed in the realms of reality with just fifty seconds on the clock as the visitors took an unlikely lead when Tony Evans beat a statuesque Leigh defence to a long ball and race through on goal to slot the ball past Dean Porter.

With League Cup fixtures rarely featuring highly on the priorities of managers at the best of times, it was hardly a surprise to see both sides make numerous changes from their respective league games at the weekend, particularly when considering Warrington had a huge FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie against league rivals Radcliffe Borough in three days time, while the weekend also sees rivals Prescot Cables visit the Leigh Sports Village Stadium. Warrington made eight changes to the side that defeated nine-man league leaders Curzon Ashton 3-1 last weekend, with Leigh making the same number of changes from the eleven that started Saturday's 3-1 loss at FC Halifax Town, including a debut for recent signing Matt Carlisle.

After such an early setback, Leigh barely hesitated in beginning to control the game as, bar a short spell in the second half, the hosts dominated this knock-out encounter.

However, they were a goal behind at the break after a frustrating forty five minutes.

Shortly after going behind, Chris Baguley took a quick free kick from the edge of the area in the hope of catching Warrington goalkeeper Richard Mottram by surprise, only for his clever strike to brush the far post.

Baguley was proving to be a major threat and sent another shot narrowly past the woodwork, this time scraping the crossbar after creating the chance for himself with a lovely turn to cut inside his marker, before Jack Dorney curled the ball over the bar after smartly turning on the ball.

Chris Thompson thought he'd got the first of what turned out to be a productive evening for the former Barrow striker, but his header from a corner was cleared off the line by Darren Kinsey, before the half ended with Dorney sliding a low Tom Ince cross over the crossbar.

The first goalmouth action of the second half, albeit barely even a half-chance, saw Dale Whitham volley straight at Mottram from distance in what was largely a statement of attacking intent from Leigh before arguably Warrington's only serious threat of the final eighty nine minutes when ex-Bolton Wanderers Academy defender Matt Carlisle was in the right place to clear a Paul Bowes header off the line.

Ten minutes in to the second half, Leigh finally got the equaliser that they deserved when the Warrington defence allowed Carlisle's long throw from the left hand side bounce right the way across goal for Chris Baguley to drill home his fifth goal of the season at the back post.

Mottram was forced in to a smart diving save low to his left hand side from a free kick was cleared only as far as Jack Dorney on the edge of the penalty area, immediately before Thompson curled the ball over the bar with an ingenious strike with the outside of his boot.

Leigh's pressure eventually told just six minutes after their equaliser when Dorney played a delightful through ball for Thompson to slot past Mottram. Victory was sealed less than a minute later when Thompson scored his second of the evening in extraordinary fashion, dispossessing Paul Bowes just as the Warrington man received a pass back from the kick off before strolling around Mottram and rolling the ball in to the net.

Mottram did well to turn a Baguley half-volley from a Dorney cross over the bar, but the former Leigh goalkeeper was powerless to stop Leigh's fourth goal when Dorney wonderfully turned his man in the left channel before sending a cute ball across goal that virtually begged Thompson to turn home for his hat trick strike at the back post on eighty three minutes.

Leigh's fifth goal of the night, and Thompson's fourth, arrived in delightful fashion with four minutes remaining when impressive substitute Lee Green send fellow replacement Kris King scampering down the left flank with a wonderful ball down the line, before King delivering a pinpoint cross for Thompson to send a terrific volley past Mottram.

If that was a good strike, then Leigh saved the best until last when Baguley scored his second in stoppage time, eventually being fed the ball by Dorney when afforded the freedom of the Sports Village before effortlessly unleashing an unstoppable drive that flew past Mottram, completing the rout with Leigh's sixth goal of the night.

The victory sends Genesis in to the Second Round of the UniBond League Challenge Cup and will undoubtedly prove a huge confidence boost ahead of Prescot's visit to the Sports Village on Saturday (26th September, 3pm kick off).

Leigh Genesis; Dean Porter, Scott Sephton, Matt Carlisle (Lee Green), Chris Page (Kris King), Mark Ross, Andy Heald (David Hill), Jack Dorney, Dale Whitham, Chris Baguley, Chris Thompson, Tom Ince. Subs (not used); Jordan Stepien, Stephen Drench

LEIGH GENESIS 6 WARRINGTON TOWN 1
Date	Wednesday 23rd September 2009
Venue	Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Leigh
Attendance	138
Half time	Leigh Genesis 0 Warrington Town 1
Competition	UniBond League Challenge Cup First Round
Scorers
Leigh Genesis	Chris Thompson (63, 64, 83, 86) Chris Baguley (55, 90)
Warrington Town	Tony Evans (1)