Match Report: Curzon Ashton v Alfreton Town

Curzon Ashton moved up to seventh in the table on Tuesday (February 6) after a hard-fought win at home to Alfreton Town.

The Nash made the perfect start under the lights, taking the lead after just ten minutes through Alex Kenyon, who capitalised on a goalkeeping error and slotted the ball home to put his side ahead.

This joy was soon turned into despair when visitors Alfreton were awarded a penalty and defender Marcus Poscha was shown his second red card in as many games for allegedly handling the ball on the goal line.

The resulting penalty was initially missed by forward Jordan Thewlis, but his blushes were spared when his teammate Josh Clackstone turned in the rebound to draw the away side level.

Despite the setback Curzon continued to apply the pressure, going close to scoring just after the half-hour mark through Adam Barton, whose half-volley from just outside the area whistled inches wide of the post.

Jordan Richards then came close to putting The Nash ahead with his driven free-kick which flew just wide of the mark.

In added time at the end of the first half, Craig Mahon’s side finally made their dominance count, taking the lead through Adam Barton who smashed the ball home from close range following some brilliant set-up play from Jimmy Spencer.

Their lead was almost doubled early in the second half when Will Hayhurst’s ball in was inches away from finding the foot of George Waring, but the big man couldn’t quite manage to make contact with the cross, which would have resulted in a certain goal.

After a flurry of chances for both sides, all of which amounted to nothing, it looked as though Curzon were home and dry, but they had to face one last scare.

A corner for Alfreton in the fourth minute of injury time resulted in a free header for Kennedy Digie, but the defender was only able to head the ball inches wide, and The Nash held on to claim all three points.