Leigh Genesis hit for a fiver by Witton Albion

DESPITE making the brighter start of the two sides at a rain-soaked Wincham Park, three goals in quick succession midway through the first half went a long way to consigning 10-man Leigh Genesis to a heavy defeat.

Having fallen to an injury time 2-1 defeat to Warrington Town in midweek, Genesis were keen to get back to winning ways.

The first chance of the game fell Leigh's way on 13 minutes when Genesis were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal when Andy Heald was bundled over.

Paul Williams attempted a shot on goal with the free kick but it was deflected into the path of Paul Hopkins, who hit a low shot that looked set to deceive Matt Cooper in the Witton goal, only for the wrong-footed Cooper to react superbly and change direction to keep hold of Hopkins' strike.

Two minutes later Hopkins was again denied by Cooper, tipping away a stinging drive from Heald before deflecting Hopkins' rebound away to safety.

Leigh were playing the better football at that stage but fell behind against the run of play on 21 minutes.

A speculative Dave MacPherson strike skidded off the wet turf and caught out Genesis goalkeeper Adam Judge.

Leigh fell further behind when a simple ball through allowed Ashley Stott to run clear on goal before rounding Judge and slotting the ball into the empty net.

A minute later and Witton had scored their third goal in six minutes when a cross from the left-hand side left Andy Kinsey with the simple task of side-footing past Judge.

Genesis boss Mark Maddox made a double substitution with Gary Scott and Adam Strode being withdrawn for Simon Pendlebury and James Olsen.

As the first half drew to a close Leigh regained some of their composure and created a couple of half-chances with an emphasis more on their passing play.

But Witton scored their fourth goal on 47 minutes when a header came off the post only for the attempted clearance that followed from a Leigh defender thumping against Lee Pugh and going into the net past a helpless Judge.

Two minutes later Judge did well to keep out Matt Wood's drilled effort only for it to fall straight at the feet of Danny Griggs for him to slot in Witton's fifth goal.

Leigh's task was made ever harder on 56 minutes when Heald was sent off for a second bookable offence, though Leigh finally managed to pull a goal back with just 12 minutes remaining when a corner broke to Hopkins, who curled in a delightful strike from the edge of the area.

Leigh Genesis: Adam Judge, Rowan Garnett, Paul Williams, James Bell, Gary Scott (Simon Pendlebury 33), Andy Heald, Paul Hopkins, Joe Evans (Brodie Kearns 53), Kieran Molyneux, Rick Gleave, Adam Strode (James Olsen 33). Subs (not used); Denis Barlow, Steve Brockley.