Curzon Ashton rounded off 2025 in style on Tuesday with a 4-2 win at Southport, which took them to within two points of the National League North play-offs.
A hat trick from former Southport forward Brad Holmes helped the Nash get back to winning ways after their Boxing Day thrashing at the hands of Radcliffe.
Holmes opened the scoring on six minutes, steering in from the rebound after a frantic goal-mouth scramble, only for the hosts to equalise 15 minutes later, with Malakai McKenzie capitalising on a slack back pass from Chris Stokes and slotting past Hawkins.
Visitors Curzon then took a 2-1 lead into the break after Alex Curran smashed in a second on the half volley just before the half-hour mark.
Holmes then fired in a third on the hour, turning his marker and arrowing into the bottom right corner to seal his brace, before former Curzon man Luke Griffiths pulled one back through a superb free-kick 15 minutes from time.
Holmes then put the win beyond any doubt three minutes later, poking past ex-Nash stopper Chris Renshaw to complete his hat-trick and ensure his side would leave Merseyside with all three points.
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