Match Report by Matt Stephens

Penalties proved to be a cruel mistress as Curzon suffered defeat at the hands of Robbie Savage’s Macclesfield, with the loss meaning they exit the FA Trophy in the second round. Last season’s Semi-Finalists will progress having beaten us at the Tameside Stadium last season.

The Silkmen came into the fixture in fine form after a remarkable unbeaten start to their league season and were able to translate it into a positive result today.

Marcus Poscha scored his first goal of the season in the opening exchanges, only for Macclesfield’s Alex Curran to reply with a first-half brace – Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored in the 95^th minute to send the game to penalties, but it was the away side who ran out winners.

Some excellent build-up play meant it only took three minutes for Curzon’s top-scorer Stefan Mols to have an opportunity in front of goal, but some brave defending saw the Spaniard’s attempt deflected out for a corner.

The resulting set-piece didn’t initially find anyone in particular as the ball fell loose in the box, only for Poscha to pounce and stab the ball home, sending Curzon into an early lead.

The Nash retained an impressive composure in their play following the advantage they had afforded themselves, confidently holding possession for large periods of the initial stages.

Will Hayhurst delivered a cross into the area from the left flank which found the head of Mols, though he could only muster up an effort that flew comfortably into Max Dearnley’s arms in the 21^st minute.

The travelling fans brought impressive numbers (albeit not a particularly grueling journey) and remained in high spirits, maintaining their vehement atmosphere before they were soon given something to cheer about.

Macclesfield were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box in the 24^th minute which was dispatched by former Curzon attacker Alex Curran, levelling the score.

His driven attempt snuck cleverly underneath the rising wall of Curzon defenders and left Bobby Jones bewildered as it slotted into the bottom right corner to bring the Silkmen back into the game.

The rise of tempers was simultaneous with the intensity of tackles as the first half progressed with both sides throwing themselves into some particularly physical battles, one of which saw Luis Lacey booked despite Mols’ appeals of: “It’s football, we tackle each other, do you know what I mean?”

Curran struck again for the visitors in the 34^th minute when the ball fell to him in the box, making no mistake in sending the ball across the goal and into the same corner he found earlier to make the scoreline 1-2.

Once again Hayhurst curled a cross towards the penalty spot, this time being cleared only as far as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who stopped, looked up at goal, and narrowly fired his shot over the bar in the hopes of finding an equaliser.

Half Time left Curzon with plenty of questions to answer as they went in trailing to an opposition from the division below.

Fortune was not in Curzon’s favour in the 72^nd minute when a Buckley-Ricketts shot rattled the inside of the post and bounced back across a busy penalty area, resulting in a stadium full of breathless fans who, as far as the Nash were concerned, were forced to wait for a much needed goal.

Sometimes it just takes a moment of magic to reignite a cup dream, and that is exactly what happened when Man Of The Match Isaac Buckley-Ricketts stepped up in the 95^th minute of the game to give Curzon a lifeline.

The ball fell to him just outside of the box and he demonstrated unbelievable composure to strike the ball into the bottom left corner, sending the game to penalties at 2-2.

Unfortunately that dream did not live on past the resulting penalty shoot-out as Macclesfield were able to convert all five spot kicks, only Richards unable to score for the Nash when his penalty flew over the bar.

Curzon bow out following a performance that showed real character to take it right to the last kick, but will now be looking ahead to the next fixture against Radcliffe in the league, a side who have struggled for form so far this season and currently sit in the relegation zone.