Match Report

Curzon reserves travelled to 3^rd placed Crosfields for their final game of 2007 and considering the weather conditions Curzon were fantastic from start to finish.  The rain lashed down from the start of the game and the wind howled in all directions, Curzon had the advantage of the wind in the first half but they opted to play through midfield rather than turning the back four as the ball with the aid of the wind found their keeper Ian Warburton more often than not.  For the first 20 minutes it was just constant Curzon pressure with most of the attacks coming down the right through the very impressive Ryan Burgess and Hazen Gardner both linking with the very busy Jamie Byrne.  
Aiden Derwent had the first good effort but his quick shot went a yard past the wrong side of the post, then Jamie Byrne had two good left foot efforts on target which Warburton did well to hold.  Then disaster, with literally Crosfields first real attack on 21 minutes they took the lead, a cross from the right went deep and was played back in from the left to the far post where Curzon failed to pick up Danny Gallop who couldn’t believe his luck as he poked home. The goal rocked the young Curzon side as they had dominated the opening quarter of the game, winning everything in the midfield battle, and launching attack after an attack, while keeping it tight at the back.  But they needed just to be patience and they were and just after the half an hour mark Curzon got the goal that they had threatened to get. 
This time the ball found its way down the left and found the very hard working Dane Buller who drilled in a low ball to the corner of the 6 yard box on line with the near post, where Jamie Byrne was on hand to turn and shoot, drilling the ball past Warburton giving him no chance. The best move of the game came just before half-time following a Crosfields Corner, Curzon defended it well and three passes later Ryan Burgess drilled in a low cross from the right, it found Aiden Derwent who drilled it towards goal, everyone thought it was in but somehow Warburton saved it with his legs and it bounce away to safety.  The referee Joe Hull blew for half time and indicated that they would take the full 10 minutes for half time to allow the players to dry themselves and get themselves a little warmth.
Curzon knew that the game would be won by the team that wanted to win it more with the conditions and this game was a battle between the youth of the Curzon side and the experienced of the Crosfields side.  Curzon won both battles even with the wind blowing down their throats then continued to attack Crosfields and deservedly took the lead when following a corner, Crosfields failed to clear it properly and young Ryan Burgess collected the ball just on the edge of the box, he drove into the box skipping past three attempted tackles and shot left footed into the net, this was the goal that won the game but they still needed a third to make sure. 
Crosfields then had their best period of the game where for five minutes they pushed forward and forced Curzon into mistakes but Crosfields were restricted to long range efforts and this was mainly due to the centre backs of Ben Blease & Ben Richardson, both players deserve a mention because they are not centre backs, playing mostly in central midfield (Blease) & right back/right midfield (Richardson).  Having to step in to do a job for the injured Jordan Gill & Daniel Toft they were both strong and defended like they had been centre backs all their playing careers.  The goal that killed the game came with 10 minutes to go when Adam Buckley on for Hazen Gardner was played in down the left by Byrne and his cross found Johnny Sarcevic alone at the back post to head home his 8^th goal in only 6 games.  This was a fantastic win and Crosfields player/manager Andrew Moore commented after the game that our young side had out played his side.  Curzon now travel to Gamesley FC Sat 5^th Jan where they face a very tough fixture to kick off 2008.
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Team: (Goal Scorer(s) in bold), Keith Jones, Ryan Burgess, Sam Hinchcliffe, Ben Richardson, Ben Blease (c), Jordan Leach, Hazen Gardner (Adam Buckley), Aiden Derwent (Xavier Riedo), Jamie Byrne, Jonathan Sarcevic , Dane Buller (Craig Gorman).