CURZON ASHTON will tonight welcome Westfields to the Tameside Stadium as they play out a FA Cup First Round replay after drawing 1-1 in the original tie.
Having beaten Gloucester City 2-0 just two days ago thanks to goals from Liam Tomsett and Adam Morgan, the Nash should go into this game high on confidence, especially with the home fans behind them.
Curzon Ashton have had an indifferent season in the Vanarama National League North so far, and they sit 18th after playing 17 games and are yet to win at home in the league.
However the Nash did beat York City in the previous round of the FA Cup to set up this tie with Westfields, who held them to a draw in the original match up.
In the first tie an early penalty from Craig Jones saw gave Westfields the lead, and the side who play in the Midland Football League Premier (the ninth tier of English football) almost secured a famous upset, only for Morgan to net a late equaliser and set up this replay.
Westfields are in good form and were also in action on Saturday as they overcame Sherwood Colliery 3-2 in the FA Vase thanks to a fine brace from Dan Polan.
Westfields have been in good form throughout their own league campaign- which has seen them rise to 3rd in the table- with 11 wins and just two losses. They are currently five points behind league leaders Alvechurch though they have six games in hand on them.
For the home side ex-Liverpool striker Morgan is the danger man having netted twice in his only three appearances this season.
Though their top scorer is Niall Cummins who has seven goals to his name this term, in which is his third season with Curzon Ashton.
Paul Ennis and Iain Howard will also be looking to break forward from midfield as they have done all season which has seen them score seven goals between them.
For the visitors forward Dan Polan will be looking to start after his brace in Saturdays win, though they will be without Kane Kahaki who is still out injured.
Striker Richard Greaves will have a late fitness test on an ankle injury, the Westfields faithful will be praying he is fit to start having already scored six goals in the FA Cup alone this season.
Jamie Molyneux and James Baldwin will also be looking to cause problems for the Nash’s defence having both struck on three occasions in the FA Cup this year.
Westfields boss Sean Edwards rested five players for Saturday’s tie- so a changed line-up is expected.
Whereas, John Flanagan is expected to name the same line-up which beat Gloucester City on Saturday.
For Westfields, this is their eighth FA Cup match this campaign and they are the lowest ranked side left in the competition.
Both sides need this win for very differing reasons, but for the victor, a home tie in the second round of the FA Cup against Bury or AFC Wimbledon is their prize.
By Matt Bullin
@matt_bullin01
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