LEIGH ATHLETIC...4

HIGHFIELD UTD...1

IT was Jimmy Greaves who coined the phrase 'football's a game of two halves.'

And if Highfield can take solace from the overall ninety minutes of this game they can at least say they won the second half 1-0.

Unfortunately, the bad news was that a crazy 40 minutes defending in the first half left them in a position that the SAS couldn't have turned around!

As Latics took to the field they must have been smarting from the last meeting between these two sides, a 3-0 victory for Highfield at Seedfield two months ago.

From the first whistle Leigh took a grip on midfield and didn't let go for the first 40 minutes.

In Lessons, they had a player that ran their defence ragged with intelligent running down the channels.

This man opened the scoring after ten minutes when he was first to react to a shot on goal which was parried by Highfield keeper Moore.

After 20 minutes it was 2-0 when Walker got on the scoresheet after a defensive lapse gifted him the simplest of opportunities which he took with aplomb.

The third arrived after 32 minutes and this time midfielder Smith got on the end of a fine delivery into the box by Shepherd.

By this time Highfield hadn't just lost their bearings but also the map to the panic button.

In all honesty a rout was on the cards and no-one would have blamed them for hoisting up the white flag against a side that was running rampant.

To make matters worse the Bury side conceded a fourth five minutes from the interval when Shepherd capitalised on the visitors' weak defending. He didn't need asking twice.

As the first half came to a close the only notable efforts on Latics goal came from Jarrett and Stubbs, however, they weren't enough to give the home keeper Coupe any sleepless nights.

The second period began with Highfield attempting to apply themselves to the pace of the game.

As a unit they looked a lot tighter and they needed to be.

To be fair, Leigh took their foot off the gas a little and that let in Highfield enough to enjoy their best period.

Roberts took advantage on indecision between defender Spowart and keeper Coupe to bundle the ball over the line for a consolation goal.

Highfield's Gladwish Man of the Match was goalkeeper Andrew Moore.

Highfield entertain Springhead tomorrow at Seedfield, kick-off 2pm.

Their second string went down to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Old Standians last Saturday.

Both first and second team squads should meet at Seedfield Sports Centre tomorrow no later than 12.30pm.