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Curzon Ashton 2 Garforth Town 1

Graham Shuttleworth
27/ 2/2008

CURZON completed a home double over the Yorkshire side but almost threw the three points away after controlling the opening 45 minutes.

They should have taken the lead on 16 minutes when Jorge Diez lifted Rhodri Giggs’ cross over the top before Mike Norton’s header was comfortably taken by Karl Spratt.

David Carnell bravely denied Chris Kamara at the other end before Curzon’s attacking play finally paid off in the 37th minute when Norton steered Andy Watson’s cross beyond Spratt.

Their lead was doubled five minutes later when defence was turned into attack as Carnell gained possession, swiftly playing the ball downfield where Diez beat his marker before rounding Spratt and driving a shot into the net.

Luts de Melo fired off target for Garforth who got back into the game in the 56th minute when Greg Kelly curled a free kick around the defensive wall, leaving Carnell rooted to the spot.

Kevin Parr’s block then prevented Garforth from netting an equaliser after the referee had overruled his assistant and awarded the visitors a throw-in which they took quickly.

Curzon should have restored their two-goal advantage with 11 minutes remaining when Diez found Giggs, but with space, time and with only Spratt to beat, he duly dragged his effort wide of the target.

From the restart, the ball was played down to the opposite end of the pitch where Carnell’s attempted clearance only went as far as Karl Simpkins whose shot was blocked by Watson and Carnell then recovered his ground to collect the rebound.

Kamara shot straight at Carnell but Spratt prevented Birch from making it 3-1 in the final seconds, a combination of his fingertips and the left-hand upright denying the Curzon man.

Attendance: 186