Nathan Curtis scored the winner for Ossett Town against Trafford. Picture: Mark Gledhill
Nathan Curtis earned Ossett Town a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Trafford in the Evo Stik Division One North.
After the shock Emirates FA Cup exit at AFC Blackpool and the Ossett derby defeat, John Reed’s men needed a big lift and they got it.
Town settled and came more into the game with David Brown looking lively and getting caught offside, then good work from Curtis and captain Steven Jeff who put in a good cross but nobody was on the end of it.
A cross from Curtis on the left found Darol Lucas in the box with a great chance but his low shot was saved well by Saunders in the Trafford goal, three minutes later the impressive Jack Dorney for Trafford had a 25 yard shot tipped over the bar by Tom Morgan and from the resulting corner Morgan tipped the ball over the bar again from Ledson.
Town’s first corner came on 25 minutes but Trafford cleared and shortly after Brown played a one two with Tyrone Gay. It was Gay who ran half the length of the pitch and advanced on goal only to see his fierce shot go wide of the right hand post.
Trafford attacked down the left and crossed for Chris McDonagh to head into the net but the flag was up for offside. Town saved for a second time.
A free kick then to Trafford and header from Ledson was comfortably saved by Morgan in goal as the first half came to an end.
The second half began with Trafford on the attack and caught offside, Ross Armstrong and Stefan Payne worked well together to put Brown in with a chance.
The goal eventually arrived on 70 minutes. Lucas provided a chance for Brown but Trafford cleared for a corner on the left, the ball was played to Payne who’s cross into the penalty box found the head of Curtis to head into the net.
Gay was later sent off for a foul on Phil Dean in midfield and as the Trafford players surrounded the referee he then produced a red card to the surprise of the home bench.
Manager John Reed now brought on Sam Pashley for Curtis to help out in defence as Trafford were now putting the pressure on the home side and the resolute Town side held out with Morgan making two good saves deep into injury time to secure the three points.
Ossett Town: Morgan, Lucas, Jeff (captain), Wood, Gay, Merris, Payne, Armstrong, Curtis, Ovington, Brown. Subs: Whiteley, Lever, Pashley, Farnhill, Wright.
Referee: Chris Ward
Attendance: 115
Thanks to Howard Stevenson and Ralph Wainwright from Ossett Town for this report.
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