Men
Frank Hannah Premier Cup Tue 17 December Bower Fold
Stalybridge
1
Curzon Ashton
  • Afuye (5')
  • Darby (32')
  • Mols (81', 90+4')
4
1-4

Match report by Joel Longworth 

Curzon Ashton knocked out Stalybridge Celtic from the Manchester Premier Cup on a rainy, cold Tuesday night as goals from Michael Afuye, Ben Darby and a Stefan Mols double saw off a resilient Stalybridge performance.

The Nash started the game well going 1-0 up through Michael Afuye in the 5th minute, who curled a left footed shot into the bottom left corner. After Curzon opened the scoring Stalybridge were pressing for an equaliser with Elliot Rokka having the ball in the net but the linesman flagged him for offside.

Into the 32nd minute Ben Darby scored his second goal of the season and Curzon’s second goal of the evening. Michael Afuye made a great run down the right hand side and passed inside to Ben who shrugged off many defenders and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Throughout the rest of the first half Curzon had a number of good chances to go 3-0 up but both Craig Mahon and Ben Darby’s efforts were saved by the Stalybridge keeper Charlie Monks.

Whilst Curzon ended the half 2-0 up, it was not without Stalybridge keeping the majority of the possession however lacking the cutting edge in the final third.

As the second half got underway, Curzon made three changes with Mols, Richards and Sinclair replaceing Griffiths, Matthews and Kvaternik.

59 minutes in, Stalybridge had their first attempt of the second half with Lewis Rawsthorn being played in behind the Curzon defence and his attempted chip over Josh Ollernshaw went over the bar.

7 minutes later Stalybridge had another great opportunity to get back into the game with Jordan Butterworth putting a great cross into the box but no one failed was able connect.

Curzon had a great opportunity to make it 3 in the 73rd minute as substitute Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was sent down the left hand side by Cameron Tetlow before he cut inside to shoot, however his shot was blocked. 10 minutes later Buckley-Ricketts was once again sent down the left hand side and found Stefan Mols on the edge of the box who fired his shot into the bottom left corner.

Darby had a chance to get his second of the night in the 89th minute as he won the ball in the middle of the park and shot from outside the box, but his effort was just over.

The referee indicated a minimum of 3 minutes of stoppage time.

In the 91st minute Stalybridge pulled a goal back from Curzon failing to clear a corner and Joe Duckworth smashed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Curzon scored their forth and final goal when they were awarded a penalty in the third minute of added time, Stefan Mols stepped up and converted his penalty to get his second goal of the evening.

Curzon are once again victorious as The Nash book their place in the Semi Final of the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier Cup.


The Nash will now turn their attention back to the league with a tough away game at Leamington on Saturday afternoon.