LEIGH Genesis ended a traumatic week with a hastily-assembled side of teenage reserves and unpaid first teamers bowing out of the Carlsberg Trophy to UniBond League rivals, Cammell Laird, on an emotional afternoon at Chorley’s Victory Park.

The midweek revelation that chairman Dominic Speakman was withdrawing his substantial financial support in response to proposed charges when the club moves into its new home at Leigh Sports Village, led to a belt-tightening exercise that forced the club to make swingeing cuts to the playing staff.

Of Saturday’s squad of 14, only Steve Dickinson, Josh Wilson, Jordan Stepien and skipper Chris Holland had previously represented the club – the remainder of the side made up of youthful reserve team players stepping up for senior debuts.

They had their character tested when Chris Adamson put the visitors ahead on seven minutes, but were back on terms within a minute when young winger Scott Sefton swept the ball home after Lairds keeper Ritchie Whiteside failed to hold Stepien’s free kick.

Eddie Jebb’s goal made it 2-1 at half-time and, although Genesis made a lively start to the second half, Mike Rimmer, Mark Reed and former Leigh player Alex Hay got the goals that gave the visitors a flatering scoreline.

Leigh Genesis Supporters Association will hold a crisis meeting at Abbey Street Labour Club, Leigh, tonight, 7:30pm start.