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Reserves reach final at third
time of asking
Curzon Ashton Res finally reached a final which is just rewards for
the fantastic season they are having, only coming into the 1st
division for the 1st time this season, they set their stall out to
not get relegated and then to build and if anything else came along
then it would be a bonus. This team has competed well all season and
established themselves very well and hope to finish in the top five
and now they have a final to look forward to on April the 2nd which
is a great bonus for this young side.
With Stalybridge Celtic Res in the other semi, it was hoped that it
could be an all Tameside affair but they were knocked out by the
holders Middlewich Town so leaving Curzon to represent the Tameside
area.
Curzon’s visitors were Crosfields FC who lie one place above Curzon
in the table and a team full of experience, again Crosfields found
Curzon too strong for them and having been beaten twice already in
the league, they were hoping to gain revenge for those two league
defeats.
The 1st half did not produced many good clear chances, Crosfields
looked dangerous down the right hand side with the advancing Mark
Boardman, while Curzon looked dangerous going down the with Ben
Richardson starting off many a good move. The best chance fell to
Johnny Sarcevic after he was played in, just inside the box,
everyone thought he was offside including himself but the assistant
referee kept his flag down, Sarcevic just managed get a chip shot
off but it clipped the advancing keeper Ian Warburton and bounced
safely out for a corner. Crosfields one and only shot came on the
44th minute when Lee Boardman found space and time to hit a shot
from around twelve yards out but it only went straight in keepers
Keith Jones arms.
Curzon had played well in the 1st half and were on top but just
needed to hurt Crosfields more in the final third and they came out
for the second half looking to improve. Crosfields had also been
given a pep talk as they started the half well but again they failed
to really test Jones. Curzon continued to look the side to score
and they did on the hour mark. After being awarded a corner Ben
Richardson tricked the Crosfields defence into thinking that he was
dropping deep to defend but then suddenly turned to receive the
short corner from Jordan Leach and from the left corner of the 18
yard box he shot low and hard through the box and into the bottom
left hand corner of the goal. It was a great strike and just what
Curzon needed. Suddenly the heavens opened and the rain lashed down
accompanied with a very strong wind and with twenty minutes to go
referee Ian Hurdle seriously considered calling the game to a halt.
With a lot of surface water now on the pitch the passing for both
sides was difficult but it was Curzon who was getting the better of
the weather conditions and was now piling on the pressure looking
for the second goal to kill off the game. That goal came with ten
minutes to go and it was a good goal, Curzon awarded a free kick
just inside Crosfields half, ten yards in from the right hand
touchline, Dominic Greer’s pass found Sarcevic on the edge of the
box and he turned and then slipped the ball into the box for Jordan
Leach to run onto and side foot home to the far post for his first
senior goal for the club. For the last ten minutes Curzon battled
and continued to create havoc in the Crosfields defence and fully
deserved to hear the final whistle. But they haven’t time to get
their heads in the clouds thinking of the final as they have a
league fixture this coming Tuesday home to Barnton KO 7.45pm.
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold), Keith Jones, Ryan Burgess, Ben
Richardson, Ben Blease (c), Daniel Toft, Chris Ball , Dane
Buller (Dominic Greer), Xavier Riedo (James Blair), Jonathan
Sarcevic, Jamie Byrne, Jordan Leach.
Subs not used: Sam Hinchcliffe, Jordan Gill, Darren Riddett (GK)
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