A brace from Mike Norton not only sent Curzon home with maximum points from this first versus third encounter, but with the chasing pack all losing two points, clear daylight too.
There was too much at stake to ever consider that this game could have been anything other than the tight and tense encounter it was, with Bradford, after their last minute winner at the Tameside Stadium in the reverse fixture two months ago, looking to close the difference between the two sides to just two points and with two games in hand.
It was the home side who made the early running, with Curzon failing to make any real headway until the 10th minute as Norton got his head to a ball forward which bounced harmlessly into the hands of Jan Worsnap.
The Bradford pressure almost paid off when from a free kick on the left the ball was met by the head of Paul Staneman but his effort was wide of goal.
Curzon response was instant as they moved down the right through Rhodri Giggs. His cross to the far post was met on the volley by Eddie Stanford, with his shot being blocked with his feet by the home keeper.
Staneman intercepted a cross intended for Norton and then an overlapping run by Alex Mortimer down the left was dealt with by Worsnap as his cross looped up into the air off Stanford.
A loose backpass by Andy Watson to Carnell presented Bradford with another corner which, although dealt with initially, was quickly put back into the area. This time it was the diving Michael Moseley getting his head to the ball, but once again it was off target.
A run down the right by James Ogoo five minutes before the break was headed for a corner by Stuart Howson, a deadball situation which Giggs drove to the far post to Chris Curley. His pass to Norton had the leagues leading goalscorer taking a couple of paces before driving the ball low to the right of Worsnap and into the back of the net.
The start of the second period began in the same manner as the first, with Bradford looking to get back on level terms, but it was the visitors who increased their lead on 56 minutes when a long ball forward had Norton giving chase. With the ball into he box, and Worsnap exposed, Norton looked to go round the keeper who went to ground as did Norton, with the match referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot for a penalty kick, which Norton duly despatched with power into the back of the net for his 22nd league goal of the season, and 29th in all competitions.
The pressure began to build more and more on the visitors goal, with the defence standing firm while looking to hit Bradford on the break as Carnell was forced to save low down to this right.
With six minutes remaining, Bradford got the goal they were looking for when a free kick from the right was driven high into the area. Howson got his head to the ball which ended up in the back of the net, but it looked as though the flag of an assistant referee had ruled it out, but after a lengthy consultation with the referee, the goal stood.
Moments later the pressure was really put on the Blues after a free kick was awarded to Curzon following a foul on Giggs. A melee of players ensued and once calm was restored substitute Chris Worsley was shown a red card to reduce the visitors to ten men.
Despite the player advantage, plus six minutes stoppage time, Curzon held firm and retained their place at the top of the table.

Curzon Ashton have no first team game at the weekend but on Monday (KO 7.45) they entertain Skelmersdale United who currently occupy fourth spot, eight points behind the Tameside outfit but with a game in hand.