Match Report

This game turned into a training session for Curzon Reserves. No disrespect to Manchester Rovers who are only in their 1^st season as a Saturday team. But they knew of Curzon Ashton and came into the game with a plan of damage limitation but after only 13 minutes on the clock and Curzon by then 3-0 up courtesy of Muses Tahir, Kirtis Hogan & Dominic Greer they knew that it would be an uphill battle.  But battle they did and they had their moments when they pushed Curzon at the back but keeper Darren Riddett was never really troubled. 
Adam Buckley making his first start for nearly a month due to injury made it 4-0 before half-time but needs to work on his sharpness as he failed to add to his tally after having a good few chances with one-on-ones with the keeper.  But as always when a game gets too easy every player wants to get onto the score sheet, every player wants the extra touch on the ball and certain players try things they would not have done if the game was tight, also it is contagious & spreads throughout the team.  But a chat at half time reminding the players of what, we as a developing team are looking for in terms of team play, got them re-focussed.  But in the side where players who appearances have been limited due to the success of the side in the league, you could forgive their keenest to impress. Dominic Greer released from Accrington Stanley FC made his first start for the club as did Gary Stanley and Darren Williams who has been loaned  out to local side Old Ashtonians.
Stanley made way for Williams in the second half and Williams took his chance by breaking from midfield twice to convert both times.  Ben Richardson in at right back exploited the tiredness of the Rovers side by twice surging forwards using his odd but effective pace to surge into the Rovers box & convert twice. Then Sub Aiden Derwent smashed one home before hurting his knee as he awkwardly fell on the new G3 style pitches. With 35 minutes to go the very skilful Muses Tahir completed his brace with a well taken goal to be replaced by Jonathan Sarcevic, Sarcevic a very confident goal-scorer proved again he knows where the net is as he chalked up a hat-trick to bring the score to 13. 
Unlucky for some because manager Dave Jones was upset that Rovers got a consolation goal, the Curzon defence claim it was a definite off-side goal but never or less the goal counted and if this had been a 0-0 game until the last few minutes then Curzon would have been knocked out of the competition. Curzon now book, themselves a quarter final tie against Abacus Media who knocked out a very young Curzon side last season. This takes place on Jan 8^th 2008.
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold), Darren Riddett, Ben Richardson 2, Sam Hinchcliffe, Jordan Gill, Ben Blease, Chris Ball, Dominic Greer (Aiden Derwent), Kirtis Hogan, Adam Buckley (c), Moses Tahir 2 (Jonathan Sarcevic 3), Gary Stanley (Darren Williams 2).
Subs not used: Xavier Riedo