Curzon's promotion hopes dented by defeat

Curzon Ashton were dealt yet another blow to their hopes of reaching the National League North play-offs with a loss at home to second-from-bottom Darlington on Tuesday (February 27).

The Nash started the match the better of the two sides, creating the first chance of the game after just three minutes.

This chance fell to Spaniard Stefan Mols, who was unable to hit the target after a great cutback from winger Will Hayhurst, skewing his effort wide of the mark.

Visitors Darlington then created a chance of their own moments later when Kallum Griffiths stung the palms of Curzon keeper Cam Mason, who turned away the right-back’s swerving effort and kept the score level.

Hosts Curzon were then dealt a huge blow just before the half-hour mark when defender Devon Matthews was forced off with a muscle injury and was replaced by Jamie Allen.

Things then got worse for the home side when an in-swinging corner looped over Cam Mason’s head and Toby Lees nodded home at the back post to give Darlington the lead.

The Nash replied almost instantly with what would have been a sublime team goal, a smart piece of combination play saw Jordan Richards find space in behind the Darlington backline, his cutback to Jimmy Spencer was then laid off to Stefan Mols on the edge who was unable to steer his effort on target.

Early in the second half, Craig Mahon’s side were dealt yet another injury blow when Cam Mason was involved in a collision which left him limping heavily, and with no substitute keeper available Curzon’s number one was forced to continue through the pain, having to rely on his defensive counterparts to take his goal-kicks.

Despite the setback, the hosts were determined to get back into the game, and they did just that shortly after the hour mark when substitute Marcel Lewis fired a stunning strike into the top right corner from just outside the area to draw his side level.

The home side then had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Jimmy Spencer won the ball back on the edge of the opposition penalty area, but instead of cutting the ball back to Marcel Lewis who seemed to be in a better position, the forward elected to go for goal himself which was perhaps the wrong decision given the angle.

Curzon were made to pay for this missed opportunity moments later when a 30-yard wonder strike from Will Hatfield saw the away side regain the lead with just 18 minutes to play.

With The Nash pushing for an equaliser deep into added time, spaces understandably began to open up at the back and a clinical counter-attack from the visitors saw them put the game beyond any reasonable doubt, with substitute Andrew Nelson breaking down the left and slotting the ball into the far corner to ensure his side would be going back to the North East with all three points.

The loss leaves Craig Mahon’s side in ninth place and two points outside the play-off places, with just ten games to go in the league.

Next up for them is another home match against 8th-placed Hereford on Saturday (March 1), where they will need a huge response if they are to keep their promotion hopes alive.