After overcoming Goole in their previous fixture, Curzon had to settle for a 2-2 Draw against Prescott Cables 3-2 at the Tameside Stadium. Curzon’s home form had been superb over the last couple of years but a 70th minute wonder strike from Callum Hoctor looked set to inflict first home defeat in a regular game for two years. But a late goal from Tony Evans salvaged a point for Curzon.

In truth, both side got into the swing of it early in the game and there were not too many chances to see in the opening minutes, only Kristian Dennis trying his luck from distance and failing to trouble Andy Moore.

There was an incident that occurred though that could have changed the game. Midfielder Simon Lakeland appeared to dive in with two feet and the challenge angered the Prescott players. The ref deemed the foul worthy of a booking and thankfully for Curzon, the card was not red. Curzon applied heavy pressure on the visitors, though the closest they came to a breakthrough was a half-volley from Tony Evans which Andy Moore comfortably held. Sam Walker then struck one with venom from long-range and forced Moore into making another save, this one a little more difficult. Moore was being tested regularly at this point and after a flowing Curzon move, he was forced into action yet again, as Connor Hampson shot from the left.

The away side had created few chances and their best opportunity fell to centre-half Chris Rimmer, he was expertly found by Callum Hoctor and found himself a clear route on goal, but he couldn’t control the ball and Curzon escaped. It seemed as if Prescott were slowly getting back into the game and they registered the next chance on goal. Skipper James McCulloch stole possession in the Curzon half and attempted a speculative effort from distance, though it didn’t worry Josh Ollerenshaw between the sticks. Then shortly after arguably the best chance of the half fell to Tony Evans, but he couldn’t find the net. Curzon dominated the first half but against the run of play, Jack Webb opened the scoring for Prescott in the 42nd minute with a lovely curling effort. But immediately after, Curzon levelled things up courtesy of Tony Evans’ precise finish. Curzon finished the half very strongly and only the crossbar prevented Evans from grabbing his second and putting Curzon in the lead.

HT Curzon Ashton 1-1 Prescott Cables
The second half began rather quiet and neither side had been on top. In the opening stages of the second period, there wasn’t too much to write about, with only Danny Lambert registering a shot on target, which was easily gobbled up by Ollerenshaw. Tony Evans was looking sharp up top for Curzon and he created a chance for Lee Blackshaw, Evans crossed in a dangerous area from the right and Blackshaw was inches away from reaching it but couldn’t get to it. More chances followed for the home side, this time Sam Walker going close with a free-kick, which he did well to bend round the wall. John Flanagan opted to change the system Curzon were occupying and brought on wingers Matthew Purcell and Scott Metcalfe in an attempt to salvage all three points.

Prescott were still threatening on the counter attack and they almost took the lead for the 2nd time in the game through Danny Lambert, who was played through on goal, only for Ollerenshaw to superbly deny him a goal. But straight after, Prescott did go in front again and there could be complaints about the manner in which the goal was scored. Left-back Callum Hoctor had got forward on many occasions throughout the game and unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard drive into the top corner in the 70th minute The visitors were desperately clinging on to their lead, but had Tony Evans got a little more power on his header from Walker’s free-kick then the score line may possibly of stood at 2-2. That man Evans has a habit of rescuing Curzon at the most crucial moments and he did it yet again with an equaliser. Then Kristian Dennis thought he had popped up with a late winner only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Teams:
Curzon Ashton FC: Ollerenshaw, Woodford (Hadfield), Hampson, Hunt, Watson, Hampson, Cook (Purcell), Lakeland, Walker, Evans, Dennis, Blackshaw (Metcalfe)

Prescot Cables: Moore, Shinks, Hoctor, Murphy, Rimmer, Lambert, McCulloch, Banda (Fargin), Bathurst, Webb, Edwards (Bonetta).

Match Report by Josh Lawless