Match preview by Leon Higgins

After last weekend’s FA Trophy win at Ilkeston Town, the focus returns to league action, looking to get back to winning ways after a defeat to Scarborough.

With teams playing games in hand during The Nash’s break from league action, Mark Bradshaw’s side sit 11th in the league table with 24 points after 17 games. Kidderminster occupy the last Play Off spot on 27 points after the same amount of games played.

Worksop returned to National League divisions this season after 18 year absence. The Tigers were promoted from the Northern Premier League Premier Division after finishing second behind Macclesfield but eventually beat Guiseley in the Play Off final.

The Tigers have made a steady return to National League level sitting in 17th place on 18 points. The hosts last five games have seen three wins in three different competitions with a 3-2 win in the FA Trophy against Chorley last time out following a 2-0 win over Emley AFC in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup, a competition they won for a record 15th time last season. Prior to that league form has seen a victory at home to Scarborough which was followed by losses against Darlington and Oxford City.

Head to Head:

This will be the 20th time the sides have met with Curzon claiming victory on five occasions, Worksop 12 times and two draws. This will however be a first clash at this level with previous league meetings coming at Northern Premier League Division 1 level.

The first meeting between the sides was played on the 26th August 1989 at National Park with Worksop claiming a 2-1 victory.

In the last meeting between the sides in 2012, Curzon again lost, this time 3-2 in the FA Trophy at the Tameside Stadium.

Curzon Ashton:

• Jimmy Spencer has 4 assists – The most for the Nash and only ten players have more in the league.
• Bradley Holmes and Joe Rodwell Grant both have 2 goals off the bench this season. Only Flyde’s Jonathan Ustabasi (4) and Danny Mayor (3), Merthyr’s Tom Handley (3) and Chester’s Dylan Mottley – Henry (3) have more than Holmes and Grant. Worksop’s Jordan Burrow and Aaron Martin also have 2 goals off the bench.
• The Nash are yet to win when falling behind while only Telford (11), South Shields and Flyde’s (10) have more points when behind than Worksop (9)
• Curzon are also yet to lose when taking the lead.
• 13 of the Nash goals have come from midfielders – The most in the league.
• Only Worksop (19) have used less players than Curzon (20)

Worksop:

• Oluwatobi Joseph (GW2), Lucas Whitham (GW4,GW5,GW14), Luke Waterfall (GW6), Aaron Martin (GW7) and Bailey Gooda (GW14) have all been named in the National League North team of the week.
• Liam Hughes is the Tigers top scorer this season and the joint 14th highest in the league with 7 goals. Aaron Martin is only a goal behind.
• Left back Joe Leesley has 6 assists so far this campaign. Only Merthyr’s Lewys Twamley (10) and Flyde’s Luca Thomas (7) have more.
• Only Radcliffe (7) has scored more headed goals than the Tigers (6). The Nash have scored 5.