Curzon fight back to take a share of the points

National League North: Brackley Town 2-2 Curzon Ashton

Curzon’s first away game under Steve Cunningham saw them fight back from two goals down to gain a valuable point courtesy of two second half penalties from Dominic Knowles.

Brackley started the game on the front foot and fashioned a few half chances in the opening stages. The best of which fell to Brackley striker Wes York, who saw his header fly over the bar. Curzon carried a threat on the break, with Dominic Knowles creating their first chance of note. The striker ran on to a through ball before cutting in off the left, beating his man and curling a shot at goal – unfortunately for the Nash it was to close the Brackley ‘keeper. 

The hosts made their early dominance pay though. Midway through the first half Brackley took the lead. After a goal mouth scramble, James Armson fired past Mason in the Nash net to give the hosts the lead. 

Curzon grew into the game following the goal and had the next big chance. Max Harrop picked the ball up in a pocket of space just inside the Brackley half before sending a great ball over the top for Knowles. The striker brought the ball down brilliantly on his chest, but Lewis in the Brackley goal was alert to the danger and saved the shot well.

However, it was the hosts who got the next goal. Striker Ndlovu won his side a freekick 20 yards out from goal after being dragged down by Marcus Poscha. Murombedzi stepped up for the hosts and nestled the ball in the top right-hand corner, doubling the host’s lead. 

Curzon pushed for a route back into the game and thought they had one when Connor Hughes’s powerful effort cannoned off what appeared to be the Brackley defenders’ arm. The referee thought different and the Nash went in at the break two nil down.

The hosts should have added a third in the early stages of the second half. A counterattack resulted in the ball being pulled back to Brackley striker Armson who should’ve buried his shot but could only drag his shot wide of the Nash goal.

Curzon certainly improved from their first half performance, enjoying a lot of the ball but they couldn’t quite conjure up any real chances of note. With the majority of possession, it always left the threat of a counterattack, which Brackley nearly made the most of. A swift counter from Brackley saw the ball come to Ndlovu who cut inside and forced Mason to produce a top class save to keep Curzon in the game.

Brackley continued to create the better chances despite Curzon’s possession. The ball fell kindly to Matt Lowe 25 yards from goal with his effort crashing off the bar, much to the relief of the Curzon players. From then on Curzon really flipped a switch and began to turn the screw. Great work from Knowles again to drive into the box from the left-hand side, he drove a ball across the face of goal but despite his best efforts, Max Harrop couldn’t turn the ball into the net.

On 78 minutes Curzon finally had their route back into the game. A ball into the box by Poscha struck the arm of a Brackley defender and the referee pointed to the spot. Curzon’s main man Knowles stepped up and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to cut the deficit to one.

Brackley almost stopped the comeback in its tracks with a snapshot from Brad Rolt ricochet of the post but that didn’t stop the Nash’s momentum. On the 86th minute, great work from Curran in midfield allowed Knowles to be released, only to impeded in the box and earn his side a second penalty in 10 minutes. Once again, he stepped up and put it in the opposite corner to get Curzon back on level terms.

There was still time for Curzon to have a chance to nick it. Another ball into the box from Poscha was met by the man of the moment Knowles, but his header cannoned of the bar and to safety. 

Overall, after a poor first half the Nash players showed great character and spirit to fight back into the game and earn a well-deserved point.