On a bumpy pitch Curzon soon got on top playing up the slope and they created an opening in the first minute. A cross to the far post found Sam Walker and he could have elected to volley in a first time shot. Instead, he controlled the ball before shooting giving a defender the opportunity to block his shot and clear for a corner.
A minute later McDonagh had a chance after a defender misread the bounce of the ball but his effort lacked power and Ashforth in goal saved easily.
Seeing Josh Ollerenshaw off his line, Shane Kelsey tried an audacious attempt from inside the centre circle, but the ball never looked like beating the Curzon keeper who caught it easily.
Curzon were looking the more dangerous side and McDonagh put a header the wrong side of the post from a Matty Kay corner on 20 minutes, and then Matty Purcell appeared to be pulled back by Richardson as he burst into the area but the Blues’ penalty appeals fell on deaf ears and then Curzon produced the best move of the match so far when Purcell sent Lewis Nightingale away down the right and after some trickery by the Curzon midfielder, he put in a low cross but McDonagh again failed to hit the target.
On the half hour a short corner routine had the home defence at sixes and sevens but they eventually scrambled the ball clear and then broke quickly but failed to make the most of the opportunity, with Ollerenshaw making another easy save.
As the first half entered it’s final minutes Curzon were making most of the running although neither keeper had been involved too much, but another good move brought the opening goal. A cross to the far post to Sam Walker was played back in where Nightingale slammed into the roof of the net from a central position ten yards out, to give Curzon a deserved half time lead with his first goal for the club.
The Blues went in search of a second goal straight from the off in the second half and McDonagh’s cross found Matty Kay who hit a sweet volley at the far post, but the angle was against him and Ashforth saved comfortably enough.
Curzon were putting the home side under sustained pressure and the ball was around the Ossett box for a couple of minutes until Fish put a shot wide.
Matty Kay was the next player to have a go as he ran onto a ball played through the middle but he was stretching just too much and failed to get any power into his shot.
As the half wore on Ossett, having weathered the storm began to come more into the game but without really troubling the Blues defence, but town were defending doggedly and making life difficult for Curzon every time the ball got near to their box.
A great ball to the far post saw Mike Fish control the ball but a defender just did enough to prevent Fish from getting a decent shot on target and with eight minutes remaining, Ashworth made a great save from Fish, going to his right to turn a shot for a corner.
As the match entered it’s final five minutes Ollerenshaw was forced into serious action for the first time, turning away an effort by Garside but then disaster struck for Curzon as Chris McDonagh limped out of the action clutching his hamstring and with all the substitutes having been used, Curzon were forced to finish the game with only ten men.
It shouldn’t have been a problem as they were still having plenty of possession but deep into stoppage time, a move broke down on the edge of the Ossett box, they poured forward and a deep cross from the right found Garside’s head, his effort striking the post and then seeming to take an age to cross the line before nestling in the opposite corner for the equaliser.
There was still time for Curzon to mount one last attack but it came to nothing and it was a disappointed side that trudged of the pitch at the final whistle.
The night ended in controversy as an Ossett player apparently spat in the face of Curzon fullback Simon Woodford, a furious Woodford having to be held back by his team mates to prevent the incident from escalating further. Hopefully Ossett will appropriately discipline their player for his part in the incident which marred an entertaining hard fought game between two committed teams.

Match Report by Ian Seymour