CURZON Ashton’s home victory against Scarborough Athletic provided the appetiser for another mouth-watering meeting against the Seadogs on Saturday, October 1.
The Nash visit Scarborough in the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup as both teams edge ever closer to the first-round proper.
This victory provided a lift for Curzon ahead of the cup-tie, though Scarborough will be eager to avenge the loss which saw them slip to sixth place in National League North.
Curzon, by contrast, extended their unbeaten run in league and cup to five games as they climbed to ninth place.
On a cold Tuesday night at the Tameside Stadium, the Seadogs came into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat to fellow new boys Banbury. The Nash entered the match with a 1-1 draw against table-toppers King’s Lynn under their belts.
The visitors manufactured the first decent chance of the game when defender Ashley Jackson forced goalkeeper Chris Renshaw into a great save from distance.
However, it would be The Nash who broke the deadlock. Left-back Connor Hampson bagged his first for the club, bundling in from close-range.
Curzon nearly doubled their lead 10 minutes later, once again through Hampson, but this time he fired over from six yards.
It was a slow start to the second half for both teams, with neither creating much in the opening 15 minutes since the interval. Ryan Watson produced the first notable chance, forcing Renshaw into a save down to his left.
The game then settled into a fashion of Scarborough attacking and Curzon defending. The Seadogs, for all their efforts, found little joy against a resolute Nash defence and once again the visitors were relying on shots from distance.
This time Lewis Maloney went close from 25 yards while Watson once again forced Renshaw into a flying save with just a couple of minutes to go.
But it would be Curzon who scored the second goal in stoppage time, this time George Waring slotting in after brilliant work from Josh Hancock.
Goals: Gampton (25), Waring (90+2) for Curzon Ashton.
Curzon Ashton (4-2-3-1): Renshaw; Mahon, Matthews, Poscha, Hampson, (Richards 84), Barton, Dimaio, Hall, Hayhurst (Hobson 70), Hancock, Peers (Waring 70).
Report: Rhys Jones.