Match Report: Curzon 2-0 Brackley Town

Curzon Ashton defeated promotion rivals Brackley Town by two goals to nil on Saturday (December 16) at the Tameside Stadium.

Will Hayhurst had the first real opportunity of the game as he took aim from a free-kick twenty-five or so yards out, forcing loan signing Bobby Jones into a scrambling save. The visitors would then come even closer as Tyler Lyttle picked out Dom McHale at the back post, who directed a header towards the bottom right corner, only to be fingertipped away by Cam Mason.

Dom McHale would make a habit of terrorising the Nash backline as Riccardo Calder sprayed the ball out wide to the ex-Gloucester forward, who he cut inside onto his left and released an effort aiming for the bottom right corner but it was not enough to beat Cam Mason. The scoreline would be broken soon after as Jordan Richards swung in a corner, and a goalmouth scramble ensued with George Waring fighting away his marker to poke home from close range, 1-0. The game was not lost on Brackley however as a failed free kick landed back at Dom McHale, who released a similar effort he had done minutes before, with the same outcome. A point of contention arose moments later as Shep Murombedzi went in late on Isaac Sinclair from behind, an on-the-eye awful challenge which some with blue-tinted glasses would claim the ultimate punishment of a red card but the referee Luis Griffiths decided on a yellow.

Non-League football at its best came only five minutes into the second-half as Dom McHale was set up with a golden opportunity to equalise but was unable to do so after Jordan Richards held his own on the line, clearing it away for a counter-attack ending up in player/manager Craig Mahon having an effort from fully twenty-five yards out, spilled by loanee Bobby Jones and into the net, a first for him since becoming manager, 2-0. Dom McHale would once again be involved, as he latched onto the end of a Morgan Roberts cross but could not find the finish from close range, a remarkable miss.

Yet another mistake at the back for Brackley led to the next opportunity as Zak Lilly gave away the ball outside the area, Isaac Sinclair latched onto the loose ball, driving towards the Saints goal but dragged his effort wide. Zak Lilly would attempt to make up for his earlier mistake by creating a flurry of chances for himself, beginning with a ranged effort towards the bottom left corner, which was punched away by Cam Mason. The next chance however would fall to Morgan Roberts just inside the six-yard box but he fired the ball well over the bar. Zak Lilly would be back with another ranged effort aimed for the bottom left corner but this was pushed away by Cam Mason onto the post and out. Zak Lilly was not done as he let fly again from range, but Cam Mason was there to claim it. Rhys Hughes then looked to make his impact on the game as he let go from range, but the bouncing effort was caught by Bobby Jones.

The Nash then had the chance to move up to third in the table on the following Tuesday (December 19) when they travelled to Gloucester City for their game in hand on those above. This did not quite go to plan for the Nash, as they were on the end of a 3-0 thumping. Craig Mahon’s side still find themselves in a fantastic position however, they sit in 7^th place after 22 games with a home match against Southport to come on Boxing Day.