Ashton United 2 Leigh Genesis 0
By Matt Lawton
March 7 2009
With Genesis manager Lee Merricks in Singapore on account of his full-time job as a professional coach with Manchester United, assistant Lee Doherty began his reign as the club's Interim Manager with a narrow defeat away to Ashton United.
Although goalkeeper Danny Morton had shown sufficient recovery from the rib injury he picked up at Guiseley last month, youngster Dean Porter continued in the Leigh goal after a sterling performance in the midweek 0-0 draw with former Football League outfit Boston United at Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park.
In an even first half, both sides had their goalscoring opportunities but neither managed to break the deadlock, with Leigh forced in to reorganisation on the half hour mark when striker Chris Thompson withdrew through injury, allowing former Vauxhall Motors front man David Roberts to make his Genesis debut from the substitutes bench.
Having hosted three 'home' fixtures at Hurst Cross during the course of the season, Genesis could be forgiven for almost feeling at home, but they fell behind to the hosts on fifty two minutes when Ashton midfielder Ian Bennett latched on to a through ball and drill past Porter.
Ashton sealed their victory in the eighty seventh minute when a mix-up between Dean Porter and defender Alex Cunliffe saw the ball rebound to Rod Thornley, who made no mistake in lobbing the ball over a stranded Porter.
Genesis visit Kendal Town on Tuesday evening before travelling over the Pennines on Saturday to take on Bradford Park Avenue (3pm kick off).
Leigh Genesis; Dean Porter, Chris Page, Kris King, Ben McHugh (Scott Sephton), Alex Cunliffe, David Hill, Dale Whitham, Karl Brown, Phil Marsh, Chris Thompson (David Roberts), Steve Settle (Kyle Lambert)
Date: | Saturday 7th March 2009 |
Venue: | Hurst Cross, Ashton-under-Lyne |
Attendance: | 162 |
Half time: | Ashton United 0 Leigh Genesis 0 |
Competition: | UniBond Premier League |
Scorers: | |
Ashton United | Ian Bennett, Rod Thornley |
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Despite the two goals, I think the defence had a fairly good games, we were mainly punished by their counter-attacking play.
I'm not critising tactics but maybe if we tried adding another striker up front with Marsh & Thompson, we could possibly find more goals and a way out of the relegation zone. It could be too little too late but as its been once said "attack is the best form of defence".
Still bottom of the league, what is there to lose?
We matched them for most of the game but once again conceded a bad goal just after half time.
Lets hope for a bit more luck at Kendal, we saw 2 weeks ago they are beatable
big game nw tuesday as the gaps seven points nw from safety.