CURZON ASHTON 0, BOSTON UNITED 4
Curzon Ashton are in the midst of a worrying goal drought which continued in a heavy home defeat to Boston United in National League North.
The Nash have scored only one goal in their last seven games as they have slid down the table having earlier challenged for a promotion play-off spot.
And it was a miserable afternoon as Curzon ended with nine men having had Marcus Poscha and Dale Wittingham send off.
Curzon had stopped their three-game losing run with a goalless draw at leaders Brackley Town in midweek.
Manager Adam Lakeland, who secured the extended loan of Connor Teale who kept his place, but Dale Whitham came in for Adam Thomas and Alex Curran returned for Connor Dimaio who could not play due to being on loan from the visitors.
Curzon got off to the worse start when they fell behind in the fourth minute.
Alex Curran gave the ball away in his own half with a sliced clearance, the ball finding Femi Seriki who went down the right and had to have two attempts to put a cross in with the second cross finding Joe Leesley who volleyed home from 12 yards.
Things got worse six minutes later when, with Boston pressing, Curzon again gave the ball away 30 yards away from their own goal. Brad Abbott who won the ball quickly found forward Danny Elliott whose shot beat Chris Renshaw going in off the post. It was Elliott’s 25th goal of the season.
Curzon, who were under constant pressure, got a rare chance after 23 minutes when they won a free kick 20 yards out. Jordan Richards stepped up with a curling effort which was on target but Marcus Dewhurst in the Boston goal, diving to his left, punched the ball way to safety.
Richards then had the misfortune of deflecting a shot from Abbott into his own net and Curzon were 3-0 down inside 26 minutes,
With a mountain to climb, Curzon made it even harder when Poscha was given a red card after 36 minutes. After being brought down by Jake Wright jnr, Poscha stamped on the player to give referee Richards Holmes no choice but to send him off. Wright then received a yellow card for the initial foul.
In the second half, Boston did not sit back and put pressure on Curzon with Elliott trying to grab his 26th goal of the season.
Abbott broke clear to the edge of the Curzon box and laid the ball off to Wright Jnr whose effort was well blocked by Scott Wilson.
Curzon were reduced to nine men after Whitham received a second yellow card in six minutes, both for rash fouls.
With Boston dominating proceedings, Renshaw pulled off two saves in succession after 80 minutes denying the visitors a fourth goal.
But Renshaw couldn’t do anything three minutes later when Boston won a free kick on the edge of the box and Shane Byrne stepped up and placed the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Curzon will want to forget this performance quickly and move on but, with only scoring one goal in seven games, confidence will be low when they travel on Good Friday to Darlington who occupy the last play-off spot.
Curzon Ashton: (4-1-4-1) Renshaw; Richards, Poscha, Teale, Wilson; Barton; Curran (Lussey 64), Mahon (Mariette 81), Whitham, Nolan; Peers. Subs (not used): Rain, Hobson, Cooper.
Goals: Leesley (4), Elliott (10), Richards (26og), Byrne (83) for Boston United.
Attendance: 222