The game started at a slow pace with Railway being methodical in their approach while Curzon struggled to settle down, but everything change on 15 minutes when the first goal scoring opportunity fell to Railway. Full back Aiden Morris got forward into Curzon’s box and forced keeper Peter Collinge into a great save with a low shot across the box, two minutes later a misplace shot from Andrew Heald hit off a defender into the path of Curzon’s striker Kristian Dennis who from six yards out should have done better but his shot hit the keeper and away to safety.
But Curzon hit Railway with a double whammy when on 22 minutes Dennis made amends for his miss after Chris McDonagh burst into the box and his shot could only be parried by Railway’s keeper Craig Parry into the path of Dennis who had the simple task of side footing home from 6 yards.
From the restart Curzon won the ball back off Railway quickly and launched a quick attack and with Railways defence all over the place and keeper Parry out of his box the ball fell kindly to McDonagh who stroked the ball in an empty net to make it 2-0.
Just after the half an hour mark McDonagh had a great chance to make it 3-0 after he was played in by Matthew Purcell but he dragged his shot wide much to the annoyance of the unmarked team mate Matthew Kay. In the final minute Dennis was unlucky when he saw his strike hit the left hand post from 18 yards.

In the second half Railway created a good chance in the first minute and were unlucky not to pull a goal back but Curzon went to the other end through Purcell who set up Dennis but his shot was hit straight at keeper Parry. David Young then went close following a free kick on the edge of the box, the ball came back out to Young 18 yards from goal but his shot went just wide of the left hand post. Railway then had some good pressure on the hour mark which ended with Liam Gray hitting the crossbar from just inside the box with a looping effort.

Curzon made it 3-0 on 68 minutes when Dennis latched onto poor backward header to his keeper by Dan Thirkell and Parry could not do anything as Dennis slotted home from 16 yards. Then Substitute Daryl Weston came close when he hit the post on 85 minutes. Curzon finished the game the strongest and could of added to their score line, Dennis twice having good chances but stout defending by Harrogate and good goalkeeping they kept the score down to 3-0.

Curzon now look forward to their local derby this coming Bank Holiday Monday when they travel to Mossley with a 3PM kick off.

Match Report by Dave Jones