Match Report by Joel Longworth, Image by Josh Hibbert

Hat-trick hero Brad Holmes and a goal from Alex Curran saw Curzon leave Haig Avenue with all three points.

Curzon started the game brightly, with Brad Holmes winning a corner in just the second minute, though it ultimately came to nothing. The Nash scored the opener in the sixth minute through Holmes, who netted his ninth goal of the season. Alex Curran whipped a free-kick into the box, where Joel Amado’s initial effort was blocked, but the ball fell to Holmes, who smashed it into the net.

Southport had their first opportunity of the game in the 21st minute when Chris Stokes brought down Luke Griffiths just outside the area, with the resulting free-kick well saved by Callum Hawkins. However, a minute later Southport found the equaliser through Malakai McKenzie. Southport threatened again in the 26th minute, earning another free-kick, which Hawkins saved from Griffiths.

On the half-hour mark, The Nash regained the lead through Alex Curran. It was brilliant play from captain Jimmy Spencer, who flicked the ball around the corner for Curran to run onto before volleying into the bottom left corner. With ten minutes of the first half remaining, Southport went close to equalising when Teddy Lavelle’s shot from outside the box smashed against the post.

As the referee indicated three minutes of added time, Southport nearly went into the break level if it was not for a brilliant last ditch tackle from Jack Stafford. 

HT 1-2

Southport started the second half the better of the two side, having the first chance of the half through Malakai Mckenzie, whose shot from range was saved comfortably by Callum Hawkins in the Curzon net.

As the game reached the hour mark, Curzon added a third, with Brad Holmes grabbing his second of the afternoon and his tenth goal of the season. Jimmy Spencer provided another assist, finding Holmes inside the area, where he turned away from his defender before smashing the ball into the bottom corner.

Curzon went close to adding a fourth shortly after, with Jack Stafford playing Alex Curran down the left hand side, however his shot went wide of the post.

In the 72nd minute, Head Coach Mark Bradshaw made his first change of the game with Cian Flannery coming on to replace Stafford.

Two minutes later, Ben Darby was booked for handball, conceding a free-kick from which Luke Griffiths stepped up and scored to pull a goal back for Southport.

The one goal margin was short-lived, as in the 78th minute Brad Holmes completed his first ever senior hat-trick. Alex Curran turned provider, flicking the ball over a defender into Holmes’ path, and the forward stabbed the ball past Chris Renshaw for his hat-trick.

Immediately after the hatrick, Mark Bradshaw made a double substitution, with goalscorers Brad Holmes and Alex Curran replaced by Charlie Weston and Tony Weston.

With seven minutes remaining Curzon went agonisingly close to adding a fifth only to be denied by the post. Cian Flannery picked out Tony Weston on the left, who drove into the box before finding Charlie Weston, whose close range shot smashed against the post.

The referee blew for full time as The Nash ended the year with 3 points which sees them move up to 8^th in the National League North, 2 points outside of the play-offs.

FT 2-4

The Nash will look to start 2026 strong when they travel to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday 3^rd January, 3pm KO.