Match Report

Curzon Ashton Res won this game in the 1^st twenty minutes but credit has to go to this Witton Albion side and manager Neil Gill, with players letting him down on the morning of the game he arrived with only 10 men and although they put on a brave face they struggled to contain Curzon who broke with pace and punished poor defending each time.  But in the second half they had pride to play for and the ten men of Witton certainly did that while Curzon who knew they had won the game played through the second half like it was a practice game. Adam Buckley who due to injury & then going to America to get married has been waiting for his chance to get back into the starting line-up and he certainly took his chance as he bagged 4 goals and a 1^st half hat-trick, bringing his goal tally to 14 after 22 games.
Sandwiched in between Johnny Sarcevic continued his amazing scoring record with18 goals from 18 games. Ben Richardson got his third of the season when he popped up at the far post to finish well which got the biggest cheer of the day from his father! With the U18’s having a important cup game the next day and the reserves having to travel to the reigning champions on Bank Holiday Monday, the reserves made 8 changes from the side that beat Poynton last Tuesday leaving the U18’s to rest apart from having Jamie Byrne & Hazen Gardner on the bench. They started the game very well and although Witton started with a formation of 4-2-3 they could not contain Curzon when they broke and used the width to launch their attacks. 
It was as early as the fifth minute when Sammy Hinchcliffe back in the side ventured forward from his left back position and then played in Adam Buckley with a slide rule pass between the two centre halves but Buckley who’s first touch around the keeper was good but his second touch wasn’t so good and the chance went by but he so made amends when he got his first of four then Curzon were up and running and when they got their second the heads of Witton dropped and Curzon put the game beyond doubt with three more before half time.  In the second half Witton attacked at every opportunity and this of course left big gaps at the back for Curzon to exploit but as in the game against Poynton they failed to take their chance. But they were given the task at half time to keep a clean sheet and they did that with some good defending well marshaled by Jordan Gill. 
This win keeps Curzon in fourth position and their 12^th win of the season, they are two games and 7 points behind 3^rd placed Greenalls but with the top three sides all having to play each other there is still a outside chance that Curzon could finish the season on a high.  But their biggest test comes this Bank Holiday Monday when they travel and play the reigning champions Middlewich Town for the 1^st time, Middlewich who themselves are still in the race to win the title are also Curzon’s opponents in the League Cup final in 9 days time so both teams will be looking to gain advantage on both fronts.        
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold) Darren Riddett, Andrea Russo, Sam Hinchcliffe, Jordan Gill, Ben Blease (c), Xavier Riedo (Craig Gorman), Aiden Derwent, Vassos Theophanous, Jonathan Sarcevic (Jamie Byrne), Adam Buckley (4), Ben Richardson (Hazen Gardner).