Match Report

CURZON SET UP SECOND SEMI-FINAL OF THE SEASON
Curzon Ashton Res booked their place in the semi-final of the JB Parker cup but this was not a convincing display by a side that have been playing some terrific football of late.  But  they say that the sign of a good team is when they can still win when not playing well and Curzon had to come back twice in this game and had to score three times to win it.
The Weather conditions spoilt the game somewhat with a very strong howling wind blowing across the pitch and it was Curzon who played into it for the 1^st half.  Both young sides and both sides opting to play a passing game but in the opening stages Curzon looked the stronger side and were creating the better openings but it was Trafford who took the lead when Jon Shakeshaft was allowed to twist & turn on the edge of the box and then shoot low from just outside the box past keeper Keith Jones at his far post. 
Within ten minutes Curzon were level as Curzon were awarded a free kick on the right of the Trafford box, Jamie Byrne delivered a left footed cross to the penalty spot and Johnny Sarcevic rose to head powerfully home.  In the second half Curzon knew that they would have the wind behind them and needed to take the game to Trafford but disaster struck within the first minute, giving the ball away cheaply the ball was played forward early into the Curzon’s box but the outstretched Jordan Gill could not divert the ball wide of the goal and that allowed Lee Stonehouse to run onto the ball & steer it past Jones.  But this time the lead only lasted a minute or so and some clever footwork by Byrne gave them the equalizer. As the ball was played up to Byrne with his back to goal he fooled his marking into thinking that he was going to turn and bring the ball onto his left foot to shoot, but he did neither and seeing the keeper off his line he just lifted the ball over the keeper into the empty net all in one movement.
Curzon’s winner came with ten minutes ago and again it was Byrne who got it, this time from a free kick on the right hand edge of the box, Byrne who three times already this season has shown how lethal he is from that area, floated the ball to the far post which left the keeper jumping into empty space after being fooled that the free kick was going to be knocked in for a header to the crowd of players waiting on the edge of the box.  Curzon then had two good chances to win the game but settled for the score line which takes them into the Semi-Final where they will meet Crosfields FC at home on the 8^th of March. 
This game also seen the long awaited return of the injured Stuart Ball who got a good 45 minutes under his belt and hopefully he will be fully fit and ready for full selection come the semi.      

The reserves are back in action this coming Saturday (1^st March) when they travel to Linotype/Cheadle Heath Nomads in the league with KO now back to 3PM.
Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold), Keith Jones, Ryan Burgess, Ben Richardson, Daniel Toft (Stuart Ball), Jordan Gill, Ben Blease (c), Aiden Derwent (Dane Buller), Craig Gorman (Xavier Riedo) , Jonathan Sarcevic, Jamie Byrne (2),  Jordan Leach.

Subs not used: Darren Riddett (GK)