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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Curzon Ashton (15.04.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 1 Curzon Ashton 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Tuesday 15th April 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge and Curzon Ashton shared the spoils in this highly competitive and closely fought encounter at Irongate tonight. A draw was a fair result with Brig just edging matters in the first half; going in at the break one goal to the good, whilst Curzon shaded things in the second period and fought back with a goal in the 56th minute. Opportunities were at a premium in an evenly balanced game dominated by both defences who gave little away.

Brig were keen to get back into action after the postponement of their game at Ossett Albion on Saturday due to the Queens Terrace pitch being waterlogged. They were also determined to get back on track following the 0-3 defeat at Newcastle Blue Star on the previous Wednesday night. The South Ribble side were looking to avenge the 0-2 reverse they suffered at the Tameside Stadium back on the 1st October and were eager to gain three precious points in order to consolidate their place amongst the play-off places in the First Division North.

Curzon Ashton arrived at Irongate for this crucial encounter in second position in the table after being knocked off the top spot last night when Bradford Park Avenue overtook them with a whopping 7-0 win at home against strugglers Bridlington Town. Curzon were therefore, keen to recapture their place at the summit, as they earnestly strive for the championship and automatic promotion to the Premier Division. There was a great deal resting on the outcome of this fixture at Irongate for both sides.

Irongate boss Phil Entwistle made just one change to the team that went down to defeat at Newcastle Blue Star last week. Stephen Brown came in on the right side of midfield replacing Neil Zarac who took his place on the bench. Leading marksman Ryan Salmon missed out due to suspension and defender Glenn Steel was unavailable through injury. Curzon also had several key members unavailable through suspension.

Brig kicked off on a beautiful sunlit spring evening and made most of the early running. However, the first realistic chance fell to the visitors on 12 minutes when Spaniard Jorge Gazapo went close with a shot from just inside the box which bobbled just the wrong side of the goalpost.

Play was mainly contained to the midfield as both sides vied for an opening. Brig looked the more dangerous going forward though, and after Adam Tong had just cleared the crossbar with a long rage free-kick, they took the lead in the 29th minute. STEPHEN BROWN bundled the ball home from close range after robbing full-back Alex Mortimer at the back post following good work on the left by Alex Porter and Sean O’Neil.

Curzon were stung in to retaliatory action for a while and put in some determined play before Brig resumed on the offensive.

The home side almost increased their lead on 35 minutes when an O’Neil header from a Tom Ince cross skimmed the crossbar with Curzon goalkeeper David Carnell beaten.

Try as they may the South Ribble side could not clinch that all important second goal while they held the upper hand and the visitors finished the half the stronger combination. Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick did well in palming away a fiercely struck free-kick from Edward Stanford on 40 minutes and two minutes later McCormick won a one-on-one confrontation with Gazapo clearing with his feet.

Bamber Bridge began the second period well enough with some enterprising play, but the visitors raised their game and got the equaliser on 56 minutes after a good spell of pressure on the home goal. CHRIS CURLEY finished off a move down the middle pushing his shot home through a packed Brig penalty area.

From this point onwards the visitors looked the sharper and began to test the Brig defence with some determined play. Gazapo was particularly outstanding for Curzon and the Brig defenders were kept busy keeping him at bay. The lively Curzon front runner almost got his side in front on the hour mark with a spectacular volley from 25 yards out which zipped narrowly beyond the far goalpost. Gazapo then forced his way through on 75 minutes but shot wide when well placed.

Curzon introduced Russian Vurobel Taras as a 76th minute substitute; the muscovite being signed recently by the Tameside club. He is believed to be the first Russian player to be registered in the Northern Premier League. The 23 year old is over in this country as a student.

Brig’s attacks became more and more sporadic as the visitors began to look increasingly menacing and Michael Norton stung McCormick’s hands with a rasping snap-shot on 78 minutes.

McCormick was called into action once again in the 85th minute when he saved a Jamie Byrne header from point-blank range at the back post following a fine cross by Stanford.

However, despite the growing pressure, the home defence stood firm and the game ended all square.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Crowder, Bowen, Williams, Tong, Black (M Mahoney 70mins), Ince (Zarac 70mins), D Mahoney, O'Neil (Fleming 84mins), Porter, Brown

Goals: Brown (29 mins)

Attendance: 272

HT: 1 - 0