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Firing blanks

Graham Shuttleworth
29/ 8/2007

Newcastle Blue Star.......0
Curzon Ashton...............0

WHAT do you get if you have three teenagers, a centre-forward playing centre-half and two players squad players on the bench, one of which is new to the club?

The answer is a Curzon Ashton side that demonstrated the will and ability to take on, match and better their hosts.

While it is fair to say that Newcastle had the better of the opening 20 minutes, the Blues had enough to withstand what was put their way and looked the more likely side to score when they moved forward.

Curzon could have taken a 12th minute lead had they possessed a little more support when Mike Norton's far post flick had home keeper Daniel Lowson scurrying across the six-yard box to gain possession.

Newcastle had their best chance on 24 minutes when a corner swung by Dave McTiernon was headed over by Derek Townsley, one of two Newcastle players - the other being captain David Nicholls - who played in last season's Scottish Cup Final.

At the other end, Chris Worsley was off target while both sides had efforts from distance, Nicholls for Newcastle and Dave Birch for Curzon.

Newcastle were reduced to 10 men three minutes before the break when Norton became entangled with Chris Carr, the former England under-17 international and Newcastle United reserve team captain throwing a punch at the Curzon forward and leaving the referee with the task of brandishing a red card.

Curzon dominated the second period, leaving their host to look for something on the break, which they almost achieved on 56 minutes when Carnell had to come well out of his area to challenge Lee Novak whose attempted lob bounced wide.

Lowson was grateful for Townsley's clearance after he dropped Ben Richardson's corner, Norton headed Ryan Moore's cross over, while a series of scrambles inside the home penalty area went unrewarded.

Norton again headed off target, a feat repeated a minute from time as Moore as Curzon took a point home with them.

Attendance: 150