CURZON ASHTON FC
MATCH REPORTS & STATISTICS
Saturday 27 October 2007
Opponents   Woodley Sports
Venue   The Tameside Stadium
Competition   League Game
Kick-off   3.00pm
Attendance   241
Half-Time Score   3-0
Full-Time Score   6-1
Team Line-ups (Scorers in Bold)
Curzon Ashton FC 6 - 1 Woodley Sports
Intinhar Steve   1   Higginbottom Liam
Tait Richard   2   Headley Russell
Mortimer Alex   3   Crank Ashley
Birch David   4   Kay Jamie
Jones Adam   5   Boothby Nick
Worsley Chris   6   Marsh Neil
Giggs Rhodri   7   Robinson Nick
Curley Chris 1 8   Pavey Andy
Norton Michael 2 9   Stubberfield Danny
Pringle Douglas 1 10 1 Henley Lee
Allen Nick 1 11   Warwick Michael
Substitutes
Mitten Josh 1 12   Watson Andy
Berry Ian   14   Wild Peter
Moore Ryan   15   Gee Gary

Match Report

It was six of the best from Curzon who turned on a display that showed the crowd of 241 why they currently head the league table, and had the Blues take their chances then the scoreline could easily have reached double figures.
There was an indication of what was to come as early as the fifth minute when Chris Worsley, wide on the right, played the ball back to Richard Tait. His cross into the penalty area was met by the head of Dougie Pringle but the ball looped over the top.
There was an uncertain moment in the Curzon 6 yard area when Steve Intikhar looked as though he had been knocked when he went for a cross from a corner on the right, but referee Ryan Johnson didn't agree and it took a scramble near to the home goal before the danger was eventually cleared.
Constant pressure almost brought about a goal on 11 minutes and good fortune was with the Steelmen as first of all keeper Liam Higginbottom somehow got his body in the way of a Worsley effort and then Neil Marsh took the balls off the toes of Mike Norton as the ball was driven low into the area.
After almost non-stop Curzon attacking the visitors resistance was broken when three goals came in the space of 17 minutes with Chris Curley heading home from just inside the 18 yard area from a Rhodri Giggs cross, and six minutes later Mike Norton got the first of his brace when the ball was played inside the 6 yard area after a Chris Worsley effort had been cleared.
A neat move down the right then brought about the third goal of the day as Curley rolled the ball back to the right boot of Nick Allen who side-footed the ball into the net from 18 yards out.
A rare attack by the visitors presented Lee Henley with a sight of goal but his effort flew well wide of the target and then at the other end Curzon should have gone into the interval with a comfortable four goal advantage when Norton was through on goal but with only Higginbottom to beat he put his shot too close to the stopper who was able to turn the ball for a corner.
Dougie Pringle should have added his name to the score sheet four minutes after the break when he got on the end of a Giggs cross, but he lifted the ball over the top with just keeper Liam Higginbottom to beat, but there was no such let off for the visitors a minute later when Norton latched onto a ball played through by Worsley, as he beat Higginbottom to the ball, before rolling it into an empty net.
Pringle made sure he got his name on the list of scorers on 56 minutes when he beat the offside trap, and the exposed Higginbottom, for the fifth of the day.
There should have been a second for Pringle just after the hour mark when the Blues midfield knocked the ball around confidently before it was played forward to Norton. His run to the goal line and knock back to strike partner Pringle ended with the forward somehow striking the Woodley left-hand goal post from only a couple of yards away from goal.
What looked like a lost cause was chased down by Giggs as the ball headed to go out of play on the right, but he kept the ball in play and his cross to the near post was met by the outstretched boot of Marsh, and his attempted block on the ball brought the best save of the day from Higginbottom as he got down quickly to his right to prevent an own goal, turning the ball for another Curzon corner.
Lee Henley scored a consolation goal for the Steelmen three minutes from the end as Curzon failed to clear their lines, but the five goal advantage was restored two minutes later when substitute Josh Mitten got his head to a Giggs cross to leave Higginbottom beaten yet again.
This eighth win of the season sees Curzon maintain their record as the only unbeaten team in the UniBond in league games.

Curzon Ashton turn their attention to cup football again on Saturday when they entertain UniBond Premier League side Illkeston town in the second qualifying round of The FA Trophy. KO is 3pm and normal admission prices apply.
Meanwhile, the clubs youth team have reached the First Round of The FA Youth Cup for the second successive season courtesy of a 4-0 home win against Salford City. Jamie Byrne scored a hat-trick and Richard Tait also got his name on the score sheet.
Having also beaten Southport and Warrington Town, both away from home, they have now earned the right to test their credentials against Football League opponents Chesterfield.
The game is to be played on Wednesday 7 November with a 7.45 ko. Admission to the game is £3.00 adults and £2.00 concessions.