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Curzon Reserves booked a place into the Semi-Final of the MCFA
Charter Standard Cup with a well deserved 2-1 victory over
Lancashire & Cheshire Premier Division side Abacus Media FC. The
game took place at the new MCFA headquarters in the Salford Sports
Village, Littleton Rd, Salford. The weather played a massive part
as the game started with the wind blowing very strong followed by
heavy rain, hailstone and then thunder & lighting. Credit has to go
to both sides as they continued to play in the right way and
produced some good football for the few that came out to support in
the horrible weather.
Curzon were always in control of this tie especially the 1st half
only in the last ten minutes did Abacus put pressure on Curzon after
they pulled a goal back & went looking for the equaliser. in the
first 10 minutes both sides went looking for the long ball hoping
that the wind would come to their advantage but it was the wrong
tactic, Once Curzon settled and started to play their short game and
build patiently through midfield did they do better and create more
chances. Craig Gorman who played the holding role in midfield was
involved in most of Curzon's best moves and with his goal earn’t
himself the MOM award.
The 1st goal came on the 20th minutes when Kirtis Hogan received the
ball from 25 yards out, he struck sweetly with his left foot and
with the wind behind it the keeper failed to hold it & he dropped it
into the net. Not to be out done Gorman hit a right foot shot from
around 30 yards, again wind assisted but this time the keeper never
got near it. As for Abacus they struggled to create anything near a
good chance due to good defending and the strong wind, Nathan Milnes
in Curzon's net had only one shot to save & he held it with no
problem. In the second half both teams came out to a white pitch as
it was covered with the large hailstone and now the rain was really
lashing down and fortunate for Curzon the wind had changed
direction.
Both sides continued to play and worked hard but Curzon always held
the slight advantage. as Abacus were always chasing the game.
Manager Dave Jones chose to keep four of the regular players on the
bench and give others the night off so that he could take a good
look and the other players who have been trying to break into the
team & give them a good chance to shine, although the weather did
not help, he saw enough from a few to give him a selection problem
for their next game. Abacus did get a goal back after a shot seemed
to be smothered by Milnes but the slippery ball escaped his grasp
and it fell to the incoming striker who finished well. Curzon threw
on all three subs while Abacus pushed forward looking for the
equaliser, but time was not on their side and Curzon won the right
to go back to Salford Sports Village for the Semi-Final. The date &
opponents are not known yet but will be published on this website
when known.
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold): Nathan Milnes, Ryan Burgess, Jordan
Leach, Ben Richardson, Daniel Toft
inchcliffe, Kirtis Hogan (Ben Blease), Aiden Derwent,
Craig Gorman, Adam Buckley (C), Dane Buller (Jamie
Byrne), Dominic Greer (Johnny Sarcevic),
Subs not used: Nathan Finnigan |
