Match report by Sol Finnon

Curzon Ashton were left delighted on what was a cold night in Oxford, as a 5-0 victory at the MGroup Stadium, featuring goals from Luke Grfitths, Stefan Mols, Isaac Sinclair & Isaac Buckley Rickeets and Luis Lacey, saw off Oxford City in sublime style.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw at Darlington on Saturday, Curzon aimed to bounce back supremely. The opening stages of the game saw Curzon (re)find a mojo that was difficult to find as of late, after each side had created a chance of their own, it was Luke Griffiths in the 38th minute who opened the scoring from an incredible free kick that came off the underside of the bar. It was the captain, Jimmy Spencer, who had combatively held up the ball and won the free kick, before Griffiths smashed the ball in from the set piece off the underside. With Curzon 1-0 up in their first ever outing away at Oxford City, encouragement was to be had from Mahon’s men.

Shortly after Curzon’s first, it was Stefan Mols who doubled the lead. An exceptional piece of Spanish wizardry, with the Spaniard receiving the ball off a Buckley-Ricketts long ball, cutting in with his right foot, and firing into the bottom left hand corner. Curzon were 2-0 and flying at half-time after two brilliant strikes. Curzon had created a fair and deserved lead after a resounding and comfortable half of football.

The initial stages of the second half witnessed Oxford City attempt to re-enter the game, as they controlled the majority of the ball and had a few half chances before the last third of the game, in which Curzon truly finished off The Hoops. Isaac Sinclair scored in the 67th minute to wrap up the game and to make it 3-0.

The boys in blue (pink on this occasion) had not finished their onslaught, there was more fun to be had, with the two-time assistant, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, leaving his mark on the fixture, with a deserved goal to make it 4-0 in the 77th minute. Buckley-Ricketts had arrived at the near post and slotted home from close range in clinical style. Oxford had been well and truly beaten by a united and valiant Nash performance.

An exquisite 5th was scored by substitute Luis Lacey in the 77th minute, the teenage full-back cut in from range and bent the ball into the bottom left-hand corner concluding an absolutely sensational day of football for Curzon Ashton. Oxford City were left stunned and without response, as Curzon returned home with all 3 points and a +GD of 5.

The Nash now sit in 4th and prepare to make ground on the teams above them in the league, optimism is there for all to bear, with Curzon possessing games in hand over every team in the top 7. Curzon are back in action on Saturday, Feb 1st, in the 3PM kick off against Rushall Olympic.

The promotion charge continues