Curzon Ashton 2 Leigh Genesis 0

Two second half goals saw high-flying Curzon Ashton run out victors over Leigh Genesis, but the basement side will be disappointed with the result after a much-improved performance that might have earned at least a point on another day.

Having played away to Ossett Albion just two days previously, Genesis boss Mark Maddox was once again forced to shake up his side because of illness and injury, with Rowan Garnett returning to central midfield in place of Gary Scott, while youth team graduate Steve Ferrigan was handed his league debut at centre back in the absense of Tony Rendell and Jack Burke made his full debut on the left hand side of midfield.

On what seems to be becoming almost the tradition of a bitingly cold evening in the Tameside Stadium rain, the hosts had the first opportunity after six minutes when a Daniel Broadbent shot flew just wide of Adam Judge's far post before Leigh had their first chance on twelve minutes when Paul Hopkins crossed for Brodie Kearns to fire in a shot at the back post that was deflected narrowly wide of the target.

Hopkins had half a chance on twenty four minutes when intercepting a poor defensive pass from the Curzon back four but saw his shot deflected wide, with Curzon striking the woodwork ten minutes later when Broadbent's right-footed strike from outside of the area flicked away against Judge's left hand post to leave the sides even at the break.

The hosts took the lead just nine minutes in to the second half when Daniel Shannon was afforded too much space to dribble forward in midfield and gain a clear view of goal to strike from distance and see the ball skid off the wet turf and beneath Judge to hit the back of the net.

Curzon somehow managed to fail to double their lead on sixty three minutes when a clever ball over the top from Phil Edghill saw Broadbent flick the ball over Judge and seemingly heading for the net, only for substitute Carlos Gazapo to try and help the ball along it's way to the net and succeed in only heading the ball over the crossbar from in front of an open goal.

Debutant Ferrigan found his way in to the referee's notebook for a strong challenge that seemingly saw him win the ball on sixty six minutes before Curzon hit the woodwork for a second time eight minutes later when substitute Luke Mack cracked the ball against the post.

Nick Eastham and youngster James Carey were introduced from the Leigh bench in the hope of an equaliser, but the final goal of the game came from the hosts on eighty six minutes when, in familiar fashion to the first goal of the evening, Luke Mack was given far too much space to bring the ball forward before cutting inside from the right hand flank and this time made no mistake in curling a beautiful strike in to the top right hand corner of Judge's net.

The defeat leaves Leigh two points adrift of second bottom Harrogate Railway Athletic ahead of a trip to ninth-placed Lancaster City this Saturday (13th November, 3pm) before fellow strugglers Cammell Laird are the visitors to Crilly Park for Leigh's first home game in nearly a month the following Tuesday (16th November, 7.45pm). Any supporters wishing to travel on the team coach to Lancaster can book their seats by e-mailing matt.lawton@leighgenesis.com for more information.

Leigh Genesis; Adam Judge, Danny Lyons, Andy Heald, Steve Ferrigan, Adam Farley, Rowan Garnett, Paul Hopkins, Joe Evans, John Lawless (Nick Eastham 76), Brodie Kearns (James Carey 85), Jack Burke. Subs (not used); Gary Scott