Curzon Ashton 4-1 Marine; Enterprise NLN; Tuesday 10th February 2026
Adam Yates reports from a sparsely attended Tameside Stadium as Curzon Ashton inflicted a league double over the Mariners with another four goals including a fantastic hat trick from Tony Weston.
Marine named three changes, one of which was due to happy circumstances as skipper Josh Wardle missed the game due to the impending change of status to new parent.
Early on, Jed Abbey was gifted a one on one with Curzon keeper, Callum Hawkins but defender, Joel Amado sprinted back to thwart the midfielder at the last gasp.
It was the Curzon opening goal that gave life to the Manchester side. Tony Weston connected with the ball on the edge of the box with a wicked curl that glided along the turf, past Fraser Barnsley and in off the bottom of the far post.
The strong Marine possession dissipated after that and they were reduced to half chances and avoidable lost opportunities whereas the Nash became dangerous on the floor albeit with poor aerial delivery that failed to meet the head of former Mariner, Bradley Holmes.
The second half was a goal fest due to unforced Marine errors with lost possession leading to an uptick in the scoreline.
Curzon doubled their lead via a short corner to Darby, who chipped the ball in towards Curran in the penalty area, who placed his low diving header into the corner.
Fresh off the bench, Offrende Zanzala had a main role in the next ten minutes as he pulled a goal back with a tap in following a messy melee but he had his head in his hands after he missed a headed chance with no defensive pressure deep in the box.
Tony Weston got a second as he received the ball in the midfield before driving forward against the Marine backline, going all the way before slotting the ball past Barnsley.
Barring a chance just over the bar from a spirited Jack Hazlehurst, Marine were already heading for the loss when Weston got the match ball with his third goal, which confirmed Marine’s third successive away defeat in the league in contrast to the great form at home as well as the cup.
Marine will look to bounce back against relegation battling Leamington at the Marine Travel Arena on Saturday.
Marine man of the match – Jack Hazlehurst
Curzon Ashton: Hawkins, Sobowale, Amado, Stobbs, Curran (Atkinson 79), T Weston, C Weston, Holmes, Darby, Richards, Ezennolim (Flannery 85′).
Unused subs Stokes, Ollerenshaw, Olufowobi, Welsh
Marine: Barnsley, Fielding (Potter 85′), Anson ©, Ashton, Thomas, Whelan, Abbey (Zanzala 68′), Sinclair-Smith, Jolley, Hazlehurst, Newell
Unused subs: McIntyre, Huby, Bell
Attendance: 282