High-flying Curzon Ashton bounced back from their weekend defeat with a deserved 2-0 victory over Cammell Laird at the Tameside Stadium last night, after traffic delayed kick-off.
First-half goals from Matthew Warburton and Ryan Brooke ensured The Nash returned to winning ways in the First Division North following their lacklustre performance at Ossett Town on Saturday.
The visitors arrival was held up due to two crashes on the M60 – resulting in kick-off being pushed to 8.20 – and Curzon boss John Flanagan admits he was wary of the delay having an adverse effect on his side.
“There was a concern with them hanging about that they would go off the boil a little bit,” he said.
“Obviously we were coming off the back of a poor performance on Saturday and so I had some well selected words to deliver to them.
“I had to be careful that I didn’t deliver that message and for it to get forgotten because of the delay.”
Despite sitting in second place – one point behind Warrington Town but with two games in hand over the leaders – Flanagan is remaining coy over hopes of claiming the title.
He said: “There are too many games to go at the minute to say we are in poll position.
“There are a few teams in there with a chance and we are in a strong position but we have got another big game on Saturday and we need to make sure we go there and don’t get beat.
The only downside to the win came when January player of the month Niall Cummins had to be withdrawn after a knock to his knee but Flanagan confirmed the injury should not rule his striker out for the weekend clash.
Image courtesy of Iain Lees, with thanks.
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