By Matt Lawton
February 26 2011

A trip to high-flying Skelmersdale United was hardly the setting that Leigh would opt for as they looked to win a second game in succession, and so it proved as the hosts ran out comfortable winners despite a goalless first half.

After producing a magnificently dominant performance to win 2-0 at mid-table Mossley in midweek, Leigh struggled to hit similar heights in their visit to Skelmersdale as Skem came up with the three points that they needed to climb in to second position in the Evo-Stik League First Division North table behind leaders Chester.

Genesis boss Alan Kershaw made two changes to Tuesday's victory with player/coach Andy Heald returning to the side in a move that saw Steve Smith drop to the substitute's bench, while the absence of Sam Fairhurst allowed a return for front man Stuart Rudd.

Despite striking the bar twice in the first half, Skelmersdale were unable to break down the Leigh defence as the game remained goalless at the break, though it took only twelve minutes of the second period for Skem to finally break Leigh's resistance when a poor clearance landed at the feet of Steve Akrigg, who made no mistake in slotting past Phil Priestley.

That lead was doubled seven minutes later when a defensive mix up between Connor Millington and Simon Pendlebury allowed Chris Almond to break through and punish the Leigh mistake.

Skelmersdale added a third goal with seventeen minutes remaining when one-time Genesis trialist Karl O'Donnell was left unmarked to tap home at the far post before the scoring was completed with a minute of normal time remaining when a rare Priestley mistake saw him unable to securely claim a corner that allowed substitute Shaun Tuck to get a fourth Skem goal.

Leigh's next outing is a home fixture against Lancaster City at Crilly Park this coming Tuesday (1st March, 7.45pm kick off) before travelling to the Wirral to take on Cammell Laird the following Saturday (5th March, 3pm).

Leigh Genesis; Phil Priestley, Rob Flint, Andy Heald (Jack Smith 79), Alex Grisedale, Simon Pendlebury, Steve Ferrigan, Craig Carney (Steve Smith 64), Dave Dempsey (Scott Sephton 57), Stuart Rudd, Connor Millington, Marvin McDonald. Subs (not used); Dale McDonald, Neil Smith