Leigh Genesis Official Supporters
Chester vs. Leigh Genesis preview
By Matt Lawton
October 14 2010
Leigh Genesis face arguably their toughest test of the season so far on Saturday when they travel to the Anglo-Welsh border to take on second-placed Chester FC, born out of the ashes of defunct former Football League club Chester City.
With the old Chester City club going out of business partway through last season, the club’s fans rallied to establish a new club and the city has responded accordingly, with an average crowd of over 2,500 passing through the gates in of the re-named Exacta Stadium in the Evo-Stik League Division One North so far this season.
The Cestrians are currently on a run of six games without defeat, recording crushing 4-1 and 4-0 victories away to Harrogate Railway Athletic and Salford City respectively since losing 2-1 at home to Chorleigh last month, though they needed extra-time to beat ten-man Rushall Olympic in the Evo-Stik League Challenge Cup last night.
Leigh, meanwhile, had an extra time encounter of their own in a League Cup tie at Curzon Ashton on Monday evening, with Genesis going desperately close to progressing after going 1-0 up as the game entered stoppage time, only for Curzon to equalise seconds before the end of injury time to take the game in to extra time, with the hosts eventually running out 3-1 victors.
This is, of course, the first meeting between Leigh and the 'new' Chester club, though Leigh, still known as Leigh RMI at the time, last visited what was then known as the Deva Stadium for a Nationwide Conference clash on Boxing Day 2003, where the hosts enjoyed a crushing 5-0 victory on their way to winning the Conference title that season.
Perhaps the best remembered meeting with the old Chester club from a Leigh point of view came at Hilton Park in September 2001 when two goals from Michael Twiss, who would later join Chester, and one from Marcus Hallows sealed a terrific 3-0 Leigh win.
Hosts Chester boast a pair of ex-Leigh players in their squad, with Mark Peers having represented Leigh in the Conference North five years ago, while Tom Field made twelve appearances during the 2008/2009 season.
Leigh boss Mark Maddox has had to contend with a virus sweeping through his squad, to the extent that Maddox, assistant Gary Scott and coach Andy Heald were all on the field in the latter of stages of Monday’s League Cup loss at Curzon Ashton, with Maddox hopeful that the five day break will bring some relief to his squad.
"We just need to go there on Saturday and try to quieten the home crowd and play the way that we have been doing recently. We've been showing a good work rate and organisation and just need to apply ourselves in the same way that we did at Curzon the other night."
"The changing room at half-time on Monday was like a scene from Casualty as the whole squad has got this bug. But fair play to the lads, I thought we were excellent and very unlucky to miss out, while the backing from the fans was a huge help to spur us on."
Maddox has to contend with the suspensions of Paul Williams, Scott Sephton and Joe Evans after their red cards in the FA Trophy defeat to Garforth a fortnight ago, though Evans would have been missing through injury anyway after being on the receiving end of a poor tackle in the league meeting with Salford last week.
Kick off at the Exacta Stadium is at 3pm on Saturday, with Leigh supporters accomodated for in the West Stand (seated) with admission costing £10 for adults, £7 for over 65’s and students, £5 for 16-17 year olds and £3 for 5-15 year olds. Matchday car parking is available, costing £1 per car, while Chester railway station is almost two miles from the stadium and served by regular trains from Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay.
Can't make the game? Follow live updates at twitter.com/leighgenesisfc
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon14/10/2010 11:47
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
LG-SA.co.uk
LG-SA.co.uk
LG-SA.co.uk
LG-SA.co.uk
The one the only Samantha Teri proud Genite and secret blonde
