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Home > 2009-10 Season > Match Reports > Curzon Ashton (24.08.09)

MATCH REPORT

Curzon Ashton 0 Bamber Bridge 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Tameside Stadium

Monday 24th August 2009

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge showed a great deal of fighting spirit in gaining a precious point against a free flowing Curzon Ashton side, who, despite dominating the game for long periods, were unable to break down their resilient guests. Whilst the South Ribble outfit spent much of their time in dogged resistance, they could so easily have snatched all the spoils with a couple of near misses in the first half, and again right at the end, when Curzon, fully committed to getting a late winner, found themselves vulnerable to a sudden Brig counter.

Brig arrived at the Tameside Stadium knowing that they were in for a stern test, as they sought to preserve their unbeaten run in the 2009-10 season. Curzon Ashton. have themselves made a perfect start to the new campaign, and have been touted as one of the possible promotion contenders in the First Division North this time around.

Tony Greenwood made just one change to the line-up which did the business against Warrington Town at the weekend. Colin McAllister made way for club skipper Phil Robinson in the heart of the defence, with McAllister named amongst the substitutes.

The game opened in lively fashion on a balmy August evening at the impressive Tameside Stadium and was to remain an entertaining and intriguing tussle throughout. Curzon showed their intentions early-doors and threatened straight from the kick-off. Left-back Matthew Wood launched a long throw-in and found Andrew Lundy in space down the left after just two minutes play. Lundy quickly whipped in a pacy cross and the ball was bundled into the net by striker Michael Norton from close in, but the effort was ruled out for off-side. Shortly afterwards, Norton narrowly headed over the Brig crossbar from a David Birch cross on the right.

The visitors were quick to heed the warning and came close themselves when a Martin Moran free-kick was knocked back over the Curzon defence by Craig Sargeson, but Ryan-Zico Black was denied at the back post by a timely challenge from a defender. Black and Chris Marlow then linked well down the left for the visitors on 8 minutes and Marlow’s resultant cross was inches too high for Phil Denney in front of goal. Then a Denney volley flew narrowly past the wrong side of the goalpost following a neat Black lay-off.

Curzon played with great composure and pushed the ball around in fine style from one man to another. Playmakers Wood and Phil Edghill were especially outstanding and created great danger with surging runs at the Brig defence. Front runners Norton and Lundy also kept the visitors rearguard busy with some menacing forays through the middle, and the home side looked well in control.

Indeed, Brig looked to have their work cut out and Curzon almost grabbed an opener on 15 minutes when an Edghill cross from the left just evaded inrushing pair Norton and Matthew Russell.

However, the South Ribble side were standing up to the test well and came desperately close to taking the lead themselves on 20 minutes when Black fired over from a good position following an excellent move involving Ashley Dunn and Denney.

Brig full-back James Heywood, who was again an outstanding performer, denied Lundy when blocking the strikers drive almost on the goal-line as Curzon once again applied the pressure. The first period had seen plenty of good football by both teams, with Curzon an impressive combination and Bamber Bridge solid in defence but willing to strike hard when the opportunity arose.

The visiting defence got into a tangle just after the break but goalkeeper Mike Hale came to his side’s rescue blocking a Lundy effort at his left-hand post following a scramble.

It was to be the only blip by the staunch Brig defence on a night when they undoubtedly excelled. Hale then made the save of the night on 55 minutes when turning aside a well struck pile-driver from the industrious Wood who tried his luck from 25 yards out.

Bamber Bridge thought they had taken the lead just prior to the hour mark when Denney slid the ball past Curzon goalkeeper David Carnell, but alert central-defender Hasim Deen was on hand to hack the ball from the goal-line just when it seemed that it was about to roll into the empty net.

Curzon continued to play some impressive football and Lundy should have done better when he miss-hit in front of goal on 85 minutes following a superb cross on the left from Edghill.

The home team threw every man forward in a last desperate attempt to break the deadlock and Brig exploited the situation with some telling breakaways. Substitute Sean O’Neil set up Denney with a knock-on header on 88 minutes and the Brig striker and Carnell bizarrely juggled with the ball on the goal-line before the keeper eventually gained control. Then Eastwood came close with a header from a Shane Oldfield cross as Brig broke again.

The game ended in dramatic fashion when Curzon skipper Wood took a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal in a central position. However, his fierce drive flew inches over the crossbar and with it went the home side’s last chance of the night. Brig had emerged unscathed after a fine battling performance which heralded a single precious point from arguably one of the best sides in the First Division North.

Bamber Bridge: Hale, Heywood, Marlow, Moran, Robinson, Dunn, Sargeson (O’Neil 45mins), Reynolds, Denney, Eastwood, Black (Oldfield 45mins). Unused subs: McAllister, Oldfield

Goals: -

Curzon Ashton: Carnell, Birch, Wood, Deen, Jones, Edghill, Worsley, Curley (Weston 73mins), Norton, Lundy, Russell. Unused subs; O’Connor, Elliot, Fish, Warner

Goals: -

Attendance: 232