Niall Cummins is mobbed by his team-mates and Curzon supporters after scoring the goal to clinch the Evo Stik Division One North title
What an effort. Harrogate Railway took Curzon Ashton all the way to the death as it came down to a dramatic 91st minute winner to crown the Manchester-based side as Evo Stik Division One North champions.
Billy Miller’s men gave Curzon such a fright in a game played at a frantic pace during the second half and Railway’s Colin Hunter even had a penalty saved when the scores were locked at 0-0 with ten minutes remaining.
Tension filled the air at Station View towards the end with Curzon looking set to have to wait a few more days to win the title.
The away side were throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at Railway and the pressure eventually took its toll and Niall Cummins was the hero with the decisive goal to secure glory and spark scenes of mass jubilation – as well as start the party.
Curzon have only lost twice in the league this season – bizarrely both times against Ossett Town – and Railway boss Miller paid tribute to Curzon and praised his own side’s performance.
“We so close yet so far, but fair play to Curzon, they haven’t won the league tonight, they’ve won it over the course of the season,” he said.
“They are great champions and they deserve everything that they got tonight.
“They are well-drilled and they kept plugging and plugging away and we went to sleep. The lads are adamant it wasn’t a corner, but that aside, once as the corner was given, no-one got to the near post.
“Our performance is up there with the best we have had. We’ve had two good games against Curzon now and that’s a good indication just to how far we have come as a club.
“We weren’t going to turn up to make up the numbers and we didn’t. The lads did themselves proud.
On Hunter’s 77th minute penalty miss, he added: “The penalty came at a difficult time because I felt if we had scored we weren’t going to lose the game.
“To be fair to Col Hunter, he’s took them all year for us and he’s been a great servant to the club. He’s finishing at the end of the season which will be a loss to us.
“If you fancy anyone on the pitch to put it away then you would fancy him.”
Harrogate Railway’s Robert Hiza is tackled by Curzon’s Andrew Watson
Only a win would do for Curzon to secure the title at Railway. Anything less and they would have to wait until at least Saturday.
Harrogate’s display right from the word go suggested it wasn’t going to be easy for Curzon. Railway caused the visitors problems and Curzon were restricted to long range attempts during the first half.
The second half was a different story as Curzon upped their tempo and really put the home side under pressure. Top goalkeeper Peter Crook had to palm Ryan Brooke’s strike past the post inside the opening 120 seconds.
Corners were being given one after another and Andrew Watson was inches away with a header from one and then hit the crossbar during a separate chance.
Curzon were launching everything they had at Railway’s defence, whose centre-halves Mike Morris and Dan Thirkell putting their bodies on the line. Captain Sam Walker came close from a free kick, while Brooke pulled a fantastic save from Crook from close range.
Adam Baker moves forward for Harrogate Railway
Then the unthinkable happened – Railway were awarded a penalty. Substitute Stephen Bromley was hacked down in the box and referee Ken Haycock had an easy decision to make.
Most of Curzon’s loud and large travelling support could not bear to watch as the veteran Hunter stepped up to seemingly to delay Curzon’s party.
However, the former Harrogate Town winger struck the ball low and down the middle of the goal which meant Hakan Burton was able to make the save with feet and ensure his side would rack up their tenth consecutive clean sheet in a row.
The game had more of a cup final fell to it as both sides were going all out to collect maximum points and one would get them.
One minute into injury-time, a corner from the left was perfect and Cummins rose above everyone in a crowded six-yard-box and became the hero with his bullet header that no-one was going to stop.
Curzon had done it and Cummins ran away only to be mobbed by his team-mates and his club’s supporters.
Four minutes were still to play and Curzon’s founder and chief executive Harry Twamley could not bear to watch the finish and he was stood in a corner with back to the game.
A few free kicks later and the final whistle was blown to cue the celebrations and the start of a long night for Curzon – but one that Harrogate nearly prevented.
Harrogate Railway: Crook, Hiza, Swain, Thirkell, Morris, Ibrahimi, Youhill (Katsamagkas 57), Metcalfe (Hunter 57), Cartman (captain), Farquharson (Bromley 75), Baker. Subs unused: Ashforth, Dwyer.
Curzon Ashton: Burton, Woodford, Hampson, Hunt, A Watson, Young, Wright, Walker (captain), Cummins, Warburton (McDonagh 73), Brooke (R Watson 94). Subs unused: Horrocks, Rowney, Lakeland.
Referee: Ken Haycock
Ref Rating: 10/10
Attendance: 168
Man of the match: Peter Crook (Harrogate Railway)
Match Photos are HERE