Match Report by Joel Longworth, Image courtesy of Radcliffe FC.
Goals from Rio Clegg, Rick Smith and Jordan Hulme were enough for Radcliffe this afternoon.
The Nash started the game on the backfoot, with Radcliffe winning a corner inside the opening minute, although it came to nothing. The amounting pressure from Radcliffe finally came to fruition in the 11th minute when Joel Amado brought down Radcliffe captain Jordan Hulme in the penalty area. Rio Clegg stepped up and converted the spot-kick to give the visitors an early lead.
Curzon were really struggling to gain a foothold in the early stages of the first half, Rick Smith headed home the corner in the 24th minute to double the visitors lead.
The second goal appeared to spark a response from The Nash. Moments later, Charlie Weston’s corner found Chris Stokes, whose header narrowly went over the bar. On the half-hour mark, Chi Ezennolim played in C.Weston, who fired just wide from outside the box. Weston was involved again shortly afterwards, forcing a save with another long-range effort, though the resulting corner came to nothing.
Curzon were fortunate not to concede again just before half-time when Callum Hawkins’ attempted pass to Timi Sobowale was intercepted by Rio Clegg. The Radcliffe forward found space in the box, but Hawkins redeemed himself with a vital save.
HT: 0–2
Curzon began the second half with more intent. Tony Weston drove down the left and into the penalty area, attempting to pick out Alex Curran, but his cross was cleared. Radcliffe responded immediately and won a corner, and Jordan Hulme found the net.
Head Coach Mark Bradshaw then made his first change of the game in the 57th minute as Brad Holmes came on for Charlie Weston.
As the hour mark passed, Curzon continued to find it difficult to build momentum. Hulme once again caused problems for Radcliffe, cutting inside and firing a shot wide.
Bradshaw made his second substitution in the 69th minute, with Cian Flannery replacing Chris Stokes.
The Nash pushed for a consolation goal late on, with Tony Weston again getting into the box, only for his cross to be cleared. In the 83rd minute, Bradshaw made a double substitution as George Sebine and Max Murray replaced Tony Weston and Timi Sobowale.
Radcliffe nearly added a third when the ball fell to Hulme inside the area, but his effort went over the bar. In the final minute, Curzon made their last change, with Crispin McLean coming on for Ben Darby, but it proved too late to change the outcome.
FT 0-3
After this result Curzon now sit 11th, four points off the play-off places.
The Nash will go again next Tuesday in their final game of 2025, when they travel to Southport for a 7:45pm KO.
