Curzon suffer heaviest defeat of the season

National League North King's Lynn Town 4-1 Curzon Ashton

Adam Marriott and Michael Gash ran riot for King's Lynn as they consigned Curzon Ashton to a heavy 4-1 defeat.

With a delayed kick-off because of the Curzon coach breaking down half way through the trip, the visitors belied that less than ideal preparation to take a deserved early lead through Callum Saunders.

But King's Lynn gradually began to take over the game and two goals in each half from their deadly striking duo, Marriott and Gash, earned them the three points.

The day will be remembered as much for Curzon's disastrous six hour journey to the game as much as the football after several enforced stops on the way to Norfolk meant kick-off had to be pushed back to 3.45pm.

After hastily arranging a replacement coach, the Nash eventually arrived at The Walks half an hour before kick-off leaving little time to properly prepare.

Perhaps surprisingly then, it was Curzon who began the game much the sharper side, dominating play and deservedly taking the lead 12 minutes in.

Sean Miller pressed high up the pitch to win possession and Luke Merrill pounced on the loose ball to release Saunders one-one-one. The striker made no mistake with a composed left-foot finish for his first goal for the club.

Both sides hit the woodwork in quick succession when Cam Mason blocked Marriott's close range shot onto the post before Miller struck the crossbar from 25 yards.

But the game turned in the host's favour when Josh Askew was penalised for handball when just standing inside his own box. Marriott made no mistake from the spot, sending Mason the wrong way.

King's Lynn completed the turnaround five minutes before half time when Aaron Jones picked out an unmarked Gash in the box and he directed an expert header back into the far corner.

Mark Bradshaw was forced into a change at half time with Matt Regan - making his first appearance since rejoining the club in the summer - replaced by Liam Davies.

But that failed to halt King's Lynn's momentum and Gash grabbed his second of the game on the hour mark, again finding space at the back post to head home.

The game was settled in the host's favour two minutes later when Marriott played a clever one-two with Alfie Payne on the edge of the Curzon box and beat Mason with a powerful finish.

Jack Banister and Michael Elstone came off the bench in a vain attempt to turn the game around but Curzon's race was run.

King's Lynn comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to move up to 2nd in the National League North table while Curzon drop to 9th.

Curzon: Mason, Halls, Thornley, Ali, Regan (Davies 46), Askew, Wroe (Elstone 75), Evans, Merrill, Miller, Saunders (Banister 65).

Subs not used: Wall, Sinclair.

King's Lynn: Street, Jones, Fox, Fryatt, McAuley, Jarvis (Richards 64), Clunan, Payne (Carey 72), Henderson (Kelly 57), Gash, Marriott.

Subs not used: Barrows, Stewart.

By Sam Hendry @Shendrysport