CURZON ASHTON 5 v 1 TRAFFORD FC
Saturday 17th April
The Unibond League First Division North
Curzon clinched a position in the promotion play-offs with a 5-1 demolition of Trafford, the visitors seemingly having one eye on Tuesday night's Manchester Premier Cup Final against Droylsden.
The home side's Dean Canning fired over after just two minutes and Trafford keeper Tom Read then produced an acrobatic save to deny Luke Mack.
However, Read was powerless to prevent Canning giving Curzon the lead in the 14th minute when the speedy winger cut inside Lee Hargreaves and fired into the far corner.
Curzon were by far the more dominant force and on the half hour, leading goalscorer Mike Norton cut in from the right and crossed for Canning to net from eight yards.
Trafford striker Scott Barlow struck a thunderbolt from 25 yards that was pushed over by Michael Hale and then Nia Buyunu headed over following a right wing cross by Shelton Payne, but the game was as good as over in the 42nd minute when A-Jay Leitch-Smith, on loan from Crewe Alexandra, blasted a magnificent drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Four minutes into the second half Adam Jones made it 4-0 when he blasted home following a goalmouth scramble and Read then saved further embarrassment with a neat stop from Norton.
In the 71st minute Trafford got themselves on the score-sheet when they were awarded a free kick on the left and Shelton Payne stepped forward to curl a great shot around the wall and inside the near post.
Cavell Coo then struck the post as Curzon sought a fifth goal and this duly arrived three minutes from time when a short corner on the right ended with the ball being played into the near post where Mike Norton arrived to flick neatly past Read.
Both teams had chances in the three minutes of injury time, Marvin McDonald just failing to convert a cross by Payne and then Canning breaking clear only to be denied by a fine save by the overworked Read.
On Tuesday night Trafford face Blue Square North outfit Droylsden in the Final of the Manchester Premier Cup at Hyde United, kick off 7-30 p.m., and they complete their league programme on Saturday with a home fixture against Chorley, kick off 3 p.m.
Trafford FC Team: Tom Read, Kyle Harrop, Simon Woodford (Chris Lawton 46), Nia Bayunu, Lee Hargreaves, Greg Hall, Joe Shaw (Nikos Papargiris 71), Melford Knight, Marvin McDonald, Scott Barlow (Tom Bailey 65), Shelton Payne.
Subs Not Used: Danny White, Max Kisseh.
Goals: (Curzon Ashton) Leitch-Smith 14, (Curzon Ashton) Canning 30, (Curzon Ashton) Leitch-Smith 42, (Curzon Ashton) Jones 49, (Trafford FC) Payne 71, (Curzon Ashton) Norton 86
