Match Report

Curzon moved into third place last night with an unconvincing win against Linotype/Cheadle Heath Nomads. With heavy rain before the game, the pitch was very wet and turned to mud which stopped both sides from playing but Nomads adapted the better of both sides. Curzon struggled in the 1^st half to show any rhythm in their play was guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply and didn’t compete in a game that needed it.  Nomads did, but what they failed to do was score.  Mid way through the half Curzon got a goal, it was a result of their best move of the game, with Jordan Gill starting it from the back and five passes later it floated over Andy Merrick into the net. However it was a lucky goal as the ball from James Blair out on the right was meant to be a cross but he will take and so did Curzon.  Curzon continued to struggle but it was their shape that was causing their problems but they still had two good chances to get a second goal, Johnny Sarcevic found himself one on one with Merrick but couldn’t get it over him, then he was close with a far post header resulting from a corner.  Half time came and Curzon sorted out their problems and came out with better shape and because of it got into the game and competed better with both teams now in a battle chances fell for both sides Nomads best chance coming from a 20 yard smashed shot which looked a goal all the way until keeper Keith Jones dived and flicked the ball over the bar.  Blair was again involved in Curzon’s 2^nd, his quick thinking caught Nomads napping as he took Curzon’s awarded free kick early by quickly knocking the ball into the box for Adam Buckley to smash home.  This was a killer for Nomads but they still continued to press forward and created some good scoring opportunities but Jones was in fine form in his net.  Curzon also had chances to make it three and in the final minutes they had their best chance when Sarcevic again found himself one on one with Merrick after being played in by Muses Tahir, but again Merrick came out quickly and saved knocking the ball out for a corner.  But from the resulting corner Sarcevic made amends by heading home past the flat footed Merrick.  Buckley had a good chance into extra time when Aiden Derwent found him with a great cross field ball but his shot just curled at the last minute to hit the side netting.  Curzon travel to Garswood on Saturday and will welcome back their players from the under 18’s as they were missing due to playing in their league cup final at Chorley but unfortunately they were beaten 3-1 by Nantwich Town.
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold): Keith Jones, Andrea Russo, Sam Hinchcliffe, Jordan Gill, Ben Blease (c), James Blair (Craig Gorman), Dominic Greer (Muses Tahir), Xavier Riedo, Jonathan Sarcevic (2), Adam Buckley, Aiden Derwent.
Subs not used: Ben Richardson & Darren Riddett