Match Report

GREENALLS GIVEN A ‘GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD’
Curzon knew that this was always going to be a tough fixture because this young side with 11 under 19 yrs old in the squad were facing a very experienced and stronger side.  Greenalls who were top for a long time were looking to retake top spot after losing it to Crosfields two weeks ago, while Curzon were looking to carry on their good run. 
Greenalls set out to play the long ball game, getting the ball  forward to the exciting Rob Hanley who was a constant threat to Curzon, Curzon knew that they could not compete with this type of game and played their normal passing game but for all the good work from the back things broke down in the last third. Although Greenalls long ball tactics was boring to watch it was effective and they played it very well especially when they got the ball to Hanley, it was Hanley who gave Greenalls the lead only after 15 minutes but rather that coming from the long ball, it came from Curzon’s own mistakes, but when given the chance Hanley did not miss, taking his goal very well.  Just before the half time break Curzon had two good chances to go in level, first Ben Blease, saw his header from the corner  cleared off the line by the defender on the post and following a second corner a shot from full back Ryan Burgess seemed to be going in only for a last ditch block by a defender.
In the second half Curzon was simply fantastic! They completely dominated the whole half and virtually camped in Greenalls half and produced some great passing football.  Greenalls long ball tactics were now not giving them no joy due to the solid back four of Curzon, but instead of knocking the ball straight back up they looked for their fullbacks and attacked through their midfield.  Both goals were results of building from the back involving one-touch, two-touch passing ending with a great finish and if they were on Match of the Day it would have been shown over & over again.
With all the pressure Curzon were putting on Greenalls it was only a matter of time when they equalized and it came mid-way through the half and move which started with the left back Ben Richardson, the ball was moved down the left and played into the box, with no space to get a shot off Jamie Byrne played the ball to the back post to Dane Buller who had got himself into the box from the right hand side, he then crossed the ball back across the box to the far post where Johnny Sarcevic rose to nod home.  This gave the belief to Curzon that they could win this game and they went for it.  Ten minutes later another great move down the left saw the ball played again into Byrne, this time he cleverly let it go through his legs into Sarcevic’s path, he shot from just inside the box leaving the keeper stranded to score his 2^nd of the game and his 11^th goal of the season. 
But one thing that this Curzon side have to learn is that you are most vulnerable when you score, because within a minute Greenalls were back on level terms and they could not believe it nor deserve it, winning the ball on the half way line they ran at Curzon who backed off then put in some lunging tackles but without winning the ball then with keeper Keith Jones caught flat footed they shot to give them the share of the points.  This was a big blow for Curzon who had worked so hard to get back into the game.  But the second half performance was a joy to watch and they will take that into the next game.
They are back in action this coming Tuesday (26^th Feb) when they entertain Trafford Res at home in the JB Parker League Challenge Cup, Quarter Final.  KO at 7.45     
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold), Keith Jones, Ryan Burgess, Ben Richardson, Daniel Toft, Jordan Gill, Ben Blease (c) , Dane Buller (Aiden Derwent), Xavier Riedo , Jamie Byrne, Jonathan Sarcevic (2), Jordan Leach.
Subs not used: James Blair, Craig Gorman, Darren Riddett (GK)