With three players suspended, while teenager Richard Tait wasn't considered in view of his impending move to Nottingham Forest, the team changes forced on manager Gary Lowe still proved to be too strong for play-off hopefuls Ossett Albion, as the Curzon manager was also able to give a first start of the season to James Ogoo while Andy Watson, who hasn't played since the end of August, started the day on the bench.
On a blustery, cold, Yorkshire afternoon, and on a pitch that has a more than noticeable slope from wing-to-wing, it was the home side who started the brighter in the opening period, and it was Andrew Seed who made the first threatening run on goal as he picked the ball up just inside the visitors half and ran through the centre. Chris Worsley tracked the player back putting in a decisive tackle just outside the area to win possession.
Having weathered the early pressure Curzon began to exert their authority on the game and on 12 minutes a long ball out of defence by Adam Jones had Dougie Pringle tussling with David Syers for the ball 20 yards from goal, with the home centre back getting the better of the forward.
Curzon's continued push forward paid off on 16 minutes and it was a ball from Worsley down the right to Mike Norton that brought about the opening goal when the teams leading goalscorer looked to turn provider with a ball inside to Ogoo. The midfielder slipped but was quickly back on his feet to roll the ball back to Worsley who's shot was fumbled by Neil Bennett, but Pringle, following in, was the beneficiary of the loose ball as he lifted it over the prostrate keeper.
Pringle should have done better three minutes later when a superb ball by Rhodri Giggs had him in a one-on-one with Bennett, but this time it was the keeper who won the contest.
Eddie Stanford, cutting in from the right, was upended 20 yards from a goal and the free kick, taken by the same player, looked goal bound but struck a defender and went out of play for a corner as Bennett was left scurrying across his goal.
The home keeper was involved in controversy on 28 minutes as a ball over the top by Stanford had Worsley giving chase. With Bennett some 30 yards from goal Worsley attempted to play the ball over the advancing keeper who put his hands up high to prevent the ball going over his head, an action which referee Mr Cooke considered with worthy only of a yellow card.
Another chance for Curzon was wasted when a Giggs cross was met by the head of Worsley, inside the 6 yard box and unmarked, but he got under the bal and knocked it over the top.
We had to wait until 35 minutes had passed for the first direct strike on the visitors goal as Seed came in from the left but his shot was comfortably taken by David Carnell, and then Darrell Jenkinson had an opportunity to put his side on level terms but his shot on the turn lacked direction and went out of play.
Some indecisive defensive play by Curzon earned the home side a corner which they failed to adequately deal with, and it was Seed to collected the loose ball only to drive it across goal and out of play for a goal kick.
In the final minute of the half it was the Bennett against Worsley contest once more as the visitors broke the attempted offside trap. This time as Worsley got his head to the ball the home stopper, who on this occasion remained inside his area, got his hand to the ball to gain possession.
The second period began much the same as the first as Albion forced a corner on the right, which Curzon quickly turned into attack, as Norton fed Pringle on the left before taking a return pass but his attempted knock-on to Worsley was well intercepted by Jon Wordsworth.
Watson returned to action on 57 minutes in place of Adam Jones who looked to have aggravated his ankle injury sustained 7 days ago, and immediately made his presence felt with a crunching tackle on Jenkinson.
The league leaders doubled their advantage on the hour mark and it was the instant control of the ball by Pringle that made the difference as he beat his marker before sliding the ball through the defence to Norton who drove the ball well beyond the reach of Bennett.
Nick Allen had to battle for possession on 75 minutes before playing the ball to Giggs, and his first time pass had Pringle in on goal but his shot was easily taken by Bennett.
Pringle was substituted three minutes later by Josh Mitten in what turned out to be an inspired move by Lowe when on 82 minutes Mitten, following a long clearance by Carnell, controlled the ball on the left of the Albion area before unleashing a shot across Bennett to leave it nestling in the home goal.
Albion earned themselves a consolation goal a minute before the end of normal time as Shane Kelsey left Paul Riley on the floor before driving the ball past Carnell.