Curzon capitulate in FA Trophy clash

FA Trophy third round: Curzon Ashton 1-3 Alfreton Town

Curzon squandered the opportunity to book their place in the FA Trophy fourth round after surrendering a one goal and conceding three late goals against Alfreton Town on home soil.

The Nash entered the game having conceded a last minute equaliser to Kidderminster Harriers just four days earlier, and Lady Luck deserted Adam Lakeland's side yet again as Jack Dunn's opener on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by a string of goals in the dying embers of the game, courtesy of Conor Branson in the 81st minute, Yusifu Ceesay in the 86th minute, and Bailey Hobson in the 91st minute.

As well as depriving Curzon a potential mouth watering tie against a National Leaguer outfit, defeat also denied the Nash the chance to pocket £4500 in prize money, and they instead had to settle for the £1250 on offer to the loser.

Lakeland was understandably left frustrated by the result and took aim at the manner in which his players conceded the goals. Speaking to Curzon's media team, he said: "I'm incredibly frustrated, angry and disappointed. I can't get my head around the fact we've lost that game 3-1, I think we've got to look at ourselves. We should have been well out of sight by 70 minutes, again, and we said to the lads at half-time that we needed the second goal to kill the game off. Teams always get another chance, typically teams like that who put it in the box and are good from set plays. 

"What we can learn, especially from them, is that when you're up against it and your backs are against the wall, you come through it unscathed. If you can't get the second goal, you win it 1-0. All three goals are a joke, from our perspective they're all errors and lapses in concentration."

The hosts gave themselves a great advantage after taking the lead on the brink of the interval, Jack Dunn converting a brilliant cross from Adam Thomas.

Curzon entered the second with momentum behind them and should have taken advantage of the other chances they created, however they were left to rue the missed opportunities when Alfreton gave themselves hope in the 81st minute when Branson poked home inside the six-yard box to level matters, before Ceesay headed home a long throw from Adam Lund to put them ahead.

And, in the 90th minute, Danny Preston's one-on-one drew a decent save from Jack Renshaw, but Hobson was on hand to capitalise on the loose ball and put the game beyond doubt. 

Picture by Old Biddle @Biddleofnowhere