Match Report: Hereford vs Curzon Ashton

The Nash travelled to Edgar Street in search of defending Craig Mahon’s perfect start, with the Irishman leading the Tameside club to 4 wins from 4 games including wins over league leaders Tamworth in the FA Cup prior to this one.

The Nash travelled to Edgar Street in search of defending Craig Mahon’s perfect start, with the Irishman leading the Tameside club to 4 wins from 4 games including wins over league leaders Tamworth in the FA Cup prior to this one.

The Bulls looked to continue their upturn in form at home following their cup upset against National League Rochdale AFC, with ex-Harrier Ethan Freemantle scoring the deciding goal.

The game started fiery from the start as Cam Mason was called into early action as an Alex Babos cross was knocked on from Ethan Freemantle, but the shotstopper punched away over bodies to safety.

Cam Mason was later booked for an altercation in the lead-up to a corner alongside Kyle Howkins. The visitors would draw first blood as Alex Kenyon looped a ball forward for Craig Mahon to chase, with the player-manager applying enough pressure on full-back Aaron Skinner who played the ball inside, not realising his keeper Curtis Pond was rushing out, Issac Sinclair then rolled the ball into an empty goal, 0-1. Devon Matthews would also find himself in the book after the referee adjudged him to be halting a promising attack with his foul on Jack Tolley.

Alex Babos would send another dangerous corner into Curzon’s box with Jordan Lyden seeing his header crash off the far post into the path of Kyle Howkins, who smashed the ball past Cam Mason to level the scores, 1-1. The hosts could’ve punished the Nash even further at the start of the second half with Jack Tolley being sent through 1-on-1 with Cam Mason but the Nash keeper came out on top on this occasion.

The second-half also marked the return of forward Hayden Campbell following his transfer back from Macclesfield on Friday, Hayden previously scoring 7 from 18 appearances for the Tamesiders. Hayden Campbell would be involved right from the off as he sent through Isaac Sinclair on the right, crossing in for Jimmy Spencer, with the ball bouncing off the Nash captain’s head for a volley from Adam Barton but it wasn’t enough to beat the bodies on the line for Hereford.

Yusifu Ceesay would create the next opportunity for the hosts as he picked up a diagonal switch from the back, cutting inside, finding Alex Babos who shoot from range, through bodies and past a rooted Cam Mason, 2-1. This would spark the downfall of the Nash at Edgar Street but not before Kyle Howkins was shown a second-yellow following the centre-back kicking the ball away as the referee blew up for a Curzon foul.

This would become the theme of the closing stages as Cam Mason arrived late to a Curtis Pond long-ball, picking up the ball just outside his box in a lapse of judgement, seeing his second-yellow and first red for the club in 187 appearances. Marcus Poscha would replace the dismissed keeper with his first action coming from the following free-kick, making an incredible save onto the crossbar but this was not enough to keep substitute Adam Rooney from notching another late goal against the Nash, 3-1.

The game would then dissolve into controversy as Devon Matthews saw a second-yellow for dissent and goalkeeping coach Kieran Bentley also saw red for his protests. Despite the late card drama, the Nash could’ve reduced the deficit before time as Jimmy Spencer placed his header just wide of Curtis Pond’s right-hand post.

Craig Mahon shared his thoughts on the final moments, ‘‘I don’t think they’ve (officials) had a great game, it was a circus at the end.” Mahon also highlighted the importance of a reaction, adding to this by stating that he believes his players did not play to their full potential.