Despite going out of their last cup competition of the season to UniBond Premier League leaders Witton Albion, Curzon Ashton can take some satisfaction from the game, knowing that for long periods they were at least equal too, and for periods better than, their hosts.
Indeed it was Curzon who made all the running in the first period of the game, with the first effort on goal coming in the second minute through Mike Norton, forcing keeper Will Smith to turn the ball over the top, and ten minutes later a ball to the far post went to the same player, but the ball came off his shins and bobbled harmlessly wide of goal.
Witton's first assault on goal came after Adam Jones conceded a free kick wide on the right, a tackle which saw the central defender injured after he fell awkwardly and having to be replaced by Kevin Parr. From the kick the ball was played into the area where Matt Woolley tried his luck with an overhead kick but he was off target.
As the half-hour mark approached it was Curzon once again making the attacking play as Dave Birch played a diagonal ball to Norton. His first touch inside to Mark Redshaw was just beyond the reach of his team mate and the ball was cleared by Ian Kearney.
With the game starting to go from end-to-end, Tim Drohan swung a cross into the box which was met by the head of Rod Thornley who couldn't find the target.
Norton should have put the visitors into the lead five minutes before the break when a high ball from Birch had the frontman racing into the area unmarked, but with just Smith to beat and from 8 yards out he put his header wide of goal.
The second period began in the same fashion as the first, and it was substitute Nick Allen, on for Redshaw, that tested Smith, who got a good left hand to the ball to knock it away, but with Curzon looking to score that vital opening goal, a defensive error nearly cost them on 52 minutes as Parr played the ball back to David Carnell and his clearance was charged down by Thornley, with the keeper having to take the rebound as it went goalwards.
Witton took the lead on 68 minutes when a ball played from right to left ended with Birch on the floor from a challenge by Thornley, who with just Carnell to beat made no mistake to put his side in front.
Curzon had a mountain to climb after a poor clearance by Andy Watson fell to the feet of Thornley 20 yards out who curled the ball beyond the left hand of Carnell to nestle in the back of the net off the inside of the post.
Despite the obvious set back Curzon continued to press forward and with a minute of normal time to play Allen let loose a shot from 20 yards out which had the beating of Smith only to strike the face of the crossbar before being hastily cleared.
Curzon managed to score the goal their play had deserved after Norton made space for himself down the left, and his ball to the far post was met by the incoming Chris Curley who headed home.

Saturday sees Curzon Ashton return to league action when they entertain managerless Bridlington Town (KO 3pm). The teams have already met each other twice, with Curzon having taken seven points, scoring six times while Bridlington netted on three occasions when the teams last met in October