Match Report by Lewis McInnes

Goals from Jack Stobbs, Tony Weston and an own goal earned The Nash a well-fought point on the road.

On a brisk evening the hosts wasted no time before taking the lead. With just two minutes on the clock, a cross from Charlie Lennon was flicked on- forcing a brilliant save from Callum Hawkins. However, it was Cedric Main who reacted quickest for Darlington and stabbed home the opener.

The home side dominated the opening 15 minutes as Lennon and Main caused more problems for Curzon. Both attackers had efforts on goal which were smartly stopped by Hawkins.

With 18 minutes on the clock, Ben Darby was fouled on the edge of the box to give Curzon an opportunity to equalise. Jack Stobbs stepped up and whipped his effort over the wall and into the top left corner to notch his 3rd goal of the season and get his side back on level terms.

The home side continued to have the better of the first half as Aidan Rutledge went close with two efforts just after the half hour mark before Max Howells stinging effort from outside the box forced Callum Hawkins into a brilliant save down to his left.

Curzon hung on and got into the break with the score level.

HT 1-1.

Mark Bradshaw turned to his bench at half-time as Alex Curran came on to replace Jordan Richards.

Curran got involved in the action straight away and in the 47th minute found himself through one-on-one with Pete Jameson. His left footed shot hit the foot of the post before ricocheting onto Scott Barrow and trickling over the line, giving The Nash the perfect response to start the second half.

Five minutes later Curran had a golden chance to make it 3-1 as he was played through by Jack Stobbs, however Jameson sprung off his line to make a great save to keep his side within touching distance.

Just before the hour mark the hosts got themselves level as Lennon cut in off the left-hand side and fired his low effort past Hawkins at his near post.

Mark Bradshaw turned once again to his bench to try and get his side back in front. In the 66th minute Crispin McLean and goal scorer Jack Stobbs were replaced by Tony Weston and Brad Holmes before Joe Rodwell-Grant replaced captain Jimmy Spencer five minutes later.

It didn’t take long for the substitutions to make their impact again as a flowing move through midfield saw Charlie Weston get his head up with space and time. His high through ball fell perfectly to Tony Weston who fired his first time volley into the bottom right corner to notch his 8th goal of the season and put Curzon back in front with just under 15 minutes to play.

Curzon’s lead lasted just four minutes this time as Will McGowan crept into the box before curling his left-footed effort past Hawkins to put the sides back level with nine minutes left on the clock.

The hosts gained the momentum in the closing minutes in the game and were looking to force a winner. Aidan Rutledge’s effort on the turn fizzed just wide of Hawkins’ post before a cross found Matty Cornish at the back post but he couldn’t keep his header under the crossbar.

However, the final chance of the game fell to The Nash as Joe Rodwell-Grant fired a low effort goalwards, forcing Pete Jameson into an excellent save down to his right to keep the score level. Charlie Weston whipped in the resulting corner which was cleared before Liam Smith blew the final whistle.

FT 3-3.

Curzon return at home on Saturday as second placed AFC Fylde will visit the Tameside Stadium, led by familiar face Craig Mahon. Kick-off is at 3:00PM.