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.