A red card for Joe Evans left Leigh Genesis with too much to do with 10 men as they suffered a disastrous home defeat to basement rivals Cammell Laird, despite a stirring second half display.

Having suffered a thumping 8-0 defeat at Skelmersdale United at the weekend, Birkenhead-based Cammell Laird visited Crilly Park with a point to prove and certainly had the better of the opening exchanges.

Ex-Leigh man Lee Atherton a commanding figure in defence and former Tranmere Rovers and Huddersfield Town star Kenny Irons, a veteran of over 500 Football League appearances, pulling the strings in midfield.

Genesis goalkeeper Adam Judge had to be sharp to stop a couple of early Lairds attempts, but there was nothing he could do to prevent the visitors grabbing a deserved lead on 32 minutes when Josh Brizzell was afforded far too much space to arrow a terrific strike into the top corner from 25 yards.

Having been booked four minutes previously for a tackle that also brought a booking for Lairds’ front man Tony Sullivan’s aggressive protests, Leigh’s task was made even harder on 44 minutes when Evans needlessly collected a second red card of the season for a second bookable offence after disputing a routine throw-in.

Leigh were out early for the second half after a roasting from boss Mark Maddox, and it showed in the renewed vigour and determination.

Mick Vernon and Rowan Garnett were introduced for Nick Eastham and Paul Williams respectively, bringing a new sense of urgency to the Leigh performance as they constantly pressed and harried their opponents although failing to create many clear-cut chances.

Leigh suffered a killer blow on 77 minutes when Lairds mounted a counter attack and Brizzell released a shot that was too strong for Judge to hold on to, with Danny Andrews nudging the ball over the line as the Leigh defence desperately tried in vain to clear the ball away.

Genesis pulled a goal back on 84 minutes with a well-worked effort from substitute John Lawless, his seventh of the season. Hopkins delivered a superb cross-field ball for Mick Vernon to turn on the right hand side of the penalty area, close to the by-line, and superbly cut the ball back for Lawless to head home.

Dreams of an equaliser were crushed three minutes later though as Leigh were again caught out on the counter attack.

Genesis are back in action on Saturday when Clitheroe are the visitors to Crilly Park, kick off 3pm.

Genesis: Adam Judge, Danny Lyons, Gary Scott, Steve Ferrigan, Adam Farley, Tony Rendell, Paul Hopkins, Joe Evans, Nick Eastham (Mick Vernon 46), Paul Williams (Rowan Garnett 46), Brodie Kearns (John Lawless 69). Subs not used): Adam Strode, Jack Burke.