By Matt Lawton
February 17 2010

A dazzling Matt Jansen hat trick saw Leigh Genesis edge a thriller with strugglers Rossendale United to claim their second win in four days, tightening their grip on sixth position in the UniBond League First Division North table.

Leigh took the lead after just seven minutes at Victory Park when youngster Richard Ratcliffe scored his first goal for the club, before Jansen claimed his first of the night on twenty one minutes.

Sam Heap halved the deficit on the half hour mark, leaving Leigh 2-1 in front at the break.

An epic comeback was on the cards on fifty two minutes when Ryan Wilkinson equalised for Rossendale before an unlikely victory seemed on the cards when Matt Walsh gave United the lead for the first time in the game on sixty one minutes.

However, Jansen was to have other ideas and the seventy third minute mark saw the ex-England man score two goals in two minutes to edge a thrilling encounter and secure all three points.

Genesis travel over the Pennines this weekend to face Wakefield on Saturday (20th February, 3pm) before Chorley's Victory Park is again the 'home' venue for Leigh next Wednesday (24th February, 7.45pm) when top six rivals Skelmersdale United are the visitors.

Leigh Genesis; Steven Drench, Lee Woodyatt, Kris King (Scott Sephton), Mark Ross, Karl Munroe, Chris Page, Jack Dorney, Steve Flitcroft (Chris Dykes), Matt Jansen, Richard Ratcliffe (Ilie Morariu), Andy Heald

Hat trick hero Matt Jansen claims the matchball

LEIGH GENESIS 4 ROSSENDALE UNITED 3
Date	Wednesday 17th February 2010
Venue	Victory Park, Chorley
Attendance	61
Half time	Leigh Genesis 2 Rossendale United 1
Competition	UniBond League First Division North
Scorers
Leigh Genesis	Richard Ratcliffe (7) Matt Jansen (21, 73, 74)
Rossendale United	Sam Heap (30) Ryan Wilkinson (52) Matt Walsh (61)