A BRAVE Curzon Ashton display went unrewarded as Solihull Moors extended their lead at the top of the National League North to six points at the Tameside stadium last night.
The Nash had to play with 10 men for all of 55 minutes after the first half dismissal of Matt Warburton following a clash with Moors’ Jack Brown, but the sides did go into the break goalless.
Akwasi Asante blasted the visitors ahead in the first minute of the second half before Dan Cockerline stroked Jon Flanagan’s team level.
The ever-dangerous Andy Brown restored Solihull’s lead with a smart header and substitute James Armson ensured all the points would leave Greater Manchester with a tidy finish capping off a great move from the Warwickshire men.
The first half was a very even affair. Solihull’s Michael Nottingham dragged the first chance of the game wide after Connor Franklin’s long-throw before Ryan Brooke hit the crossbar for Curzon after Warburton’s shot was diverted into his path.
At this point there was a clear clash of styles which made for interesting viewing. Curzon were deploying a traditional 4-4-2 formation whilst Marcus Bignot’s team were set up in a 5-2-3 system, including three centre back’s, two wing back’s and three forwards all interchanging throughout the first half.
Moors’ right-wing back Nottingham was often caught high up the field in the opening exchanges which meant most of the Nash attacks were coming down that side. Warburton and Connor Hampton were able to create crossing positions on numerous occasions although none of them led to a noteworthy effort on goal.
Nottingham did manage to breach the Curzon backline on the half-hour, however, but his ball across the face of goal evaded all of the Solihull attackers.
The game’s most pivotal moment came in the 37th minute and was the dismissal of Warburton. The Curzon number eight collided with Moors’ Jack Byrne off the ball in the centre of the field.
It looked like an accidental coming together of two players running in different directions but referee Darren Strain saw it differently and dismissed Warburton to the dismay of most inside the Tameside stadium.
Now a man short Curzon switched to a 4-4-1 formation for the last knockings of the first half and nearly conceded in stoppage-time when Brown’s header was cleared off the line before the sides took solace in the changing rooms.
During the interval Curzon introduced Danny Shaw and visibly changed formations to a 4-3-2 which immediately backfired as Solihull went in front when Asante found room on the left side of the penalty area and smashed a shot through Hakan Burton in the Curzon goal on 46 minutes.
The Blues were only behind for around 30 seconds however as Cockerline, the man pushed forward to create a two-man attack found himself through on goal and calmly stroked his side level.
Despite being a man short and facing the side at the top of the table, Curzon were still intent on winning the game and should really have gone in front when Brooke capitalised on a slack Moors pass and slid in Cockerline who hit the post, and whilst the rebound fell to Niall Cummins, his rebound was blocked.
That miss proved costly as the visitors restored their advantage on 63 minutes, Liam Daly played a long pass to Nottingham whose cross was perfect for Brown to crane his neck and nod beyond the wrong-footed Burton. Brown, on the day before his 30th birthday, had looked threatening all evening which isn’t surprising given he has over 100 career goals at this level and the league above.
Two minutes later and some Nash supporters thought they had a penalty when Connor Hampson hit the turf in the penalty area only for the referee to brandish a yellow card in the direction of the hosts number three for simulation.
Moors made the game safe on 83 minutes when Brown played a through ball for Darryl Knights whose cutback fell perfectly to substitute Armson who caressed the ball into the far corner of the goal.
Curzon created one more chance but Cockerline’s header was superbly saved by Solihull’s Danny Lewis and the last five minutes mainly consisted of Moors making use of their extra man by spraying the ball around the field, toying with the tiring Curzon team.
The harsh sending off of Warburton, one of Curzon’s most dangerous players, no doubt had a huge bearing on the game but Solihull did what they had to do to win, the hallmark of champions.
Jon Flanagan will be pleased with his troops’ efforts though and will be looking to end the season strongly starting with Saturday’s trip to Bradford Park Avenue.
Teams:
Curzon Ashton: Burton (C), Flynn, Hampson, Hunt, Woodford (Shaw ’46), Wright, Rowney, Warburton, Cummins (Brown ’74), Cockerline, Brooke (Norton ’84)
Substitutes not used: Mason, Crothers
Booked: Brooke, Hampson, Hunt.
Sent Off: Warburton
Solihull Moors: Lewis, Nottingham, Frankin, Daly, Streete (C), Dean, Asante (Armson ’74), Byrne, Brown, Beswick (Walker ’74), Knights.
Substitutes not used: Bignot, Byfield, Gough.
Booked: Beswick.
Sent Off: N/A
Referee: Mr Darren Strain
By Jordan Davies at the Tameside Stadium
@jordandavies09
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