A Kristian Dennis hat-trick ensured all three points for Curzon Ashton on the Bank Holiday fixture against local rivals Mossley.

Curzon Manager John Flanagan returned to Mossley with his new side, with 11 ex Mossley players in his squad of 16 and that was the talk on the terraces before the game and it didn’t help when after 5 minutes Matthew Purcell won the ball off Dan Queeley just inside Curzon’s half and played the ball forward Dennis, to then beat his marker and slotted past the Mossley keeper Martin Pearson to give Curzon a dream start.

Mossley then thought they had scored when Steve Halford bundled the ball over the line but the referee Justin Hayes ruled a foul on keeper Peter Collinge in the build-up,

Mossley had one more chance when Cameron Darkwah fired in a looping shot which hit the Curzon crossbar before Curzon made it 2-0.

Curzon were awarded a free kick which Sam Walker delivered into a crowded box, it eluded all the Mossley defenders but Dennis was the quickest to react to guide the ball home.

Curzon with a 2-0 lead then took the foot of the gas and allowed Mossley a few chances to get themselves back into the game, firstly Steve Halford headed over the crossbar from a Mossley corner, ex Curzon full back Cavell Coo tried his luck from 25 yards before Curzon’s young full back Connor Hampson had to bravely throw his body in front of a powerful shot from Mossley’s Kayde Coppin from only 14 yards out.

On the half an hour mark Mossley’s young forward Cameron Darkwak was unlucky when he got onto the end of a Kayde Coppin cross from the right but he saw his first touch land straight into the arms of keeper Collinge before Curzon had their next chance which saw David Young head just wide following a Walker corner.

Although Curzon were in front they still allowed Mossley the chances to get back into the game, with Harry Noon just firing wide, Queeley, allowed to have an effort, although a weak one followed by a great strike by Byrne from 30 yards out which Collinge had to watch all the way to finally palm over the crossbar for a Mossley corner.

The second half was mainly a dull affair with no side dominating but with an hour gone Curzon’s right, fullback Simon Woodford delivered a far post cross from the right but it was too much for Chris McDonagh, free at the back post.

Curzon then were dealt with a blow after centre back Young who went up for a routine header landed awkwardly and had to be carried off with a suspected broken ankle, but news quickly came from the dressing room that he may have just suffered ligament injuries.

Chances were few and far between for both sides, Matthew Kay wasted a effort on 72 minutes before Dennis claimed his hat-trick when the ball fell into a crowded box and Dennis was the again the quickest to react and slot home from 6 yards. With the game won Curzon took off Dennis and his replacement Michael Fish wrapped the game up when he received the ball. Unmarked, inside the box to have the simple task of slotting past Pearson unchallenged.

Report by Dave Jones
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/curzonashtonfc

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