Curzon’s attempt to finish the season with two trophies ended in failure at Old Hawne Lane as the two Evo-Stik Division 1 winners faced each other in the traditional end of season game.

It’s been a month since Curzon lifted their title and since then they have switched off mentally, having won just one of their six games since and this game was no different with much of the slick passing and movement that took them to the title still missing as they looked forward to a well earned rest.

Even so, they were in control for a large part of this game until an uncharacteristic mistake by Jonno Hunt gifted the Yeltz the opening goal with 25 minutes remaining, and from that point there was only going to be one winner.

After a sluggish start by both sides it was Curzon who seemed to settle first but Halesowen had the first chance, saving from the dangerous Ben Haseley with his legs on ten minutes.

A ball over the defence sent Ryan Brooke on the chase but a defender just got there first to clear the danger and then the homesters had another chance but a shot was dragged across the face of the goal on 18 minutes.

Chris Rowney then sent a snap shot narrowly wide before the Yeltz had an escape as Matty Warburton was fouled 25 yards out but Sam Walker’s free kick crashed back off a post with the keeper beaten.

Curzon then cleared off the line twice within seconds as a corner played havoc in the defence but then at the other end Warburton’s hurried shot wasn’t too far wide but the final chance of the first half fell to Haseley but again the shot went across the face of the goal.

The second half began much like the first with Curzon seeing plenty of the ball without looking too threatening, but at the same time the defence was having a comfortable afternoon and it was just past the hour before the first chance was created with the course of the game changing on a Matthew Sargeant save.

A quick throw-in saw Rowney cross low for Cummins, but Sargeant somehow kept out his close range effort before the ball was scrambled clear. Three minutes later Hunt was caught in possession just inside his own half and with Haseley sprinting towards goal there was only going to be one outcome, and sure enough, Haseley rounded Burton before putting the ball in the empty net.

On 68 minutes Niall Cummins put a header from a corner the wrong side of a post, and seconds later Halesowen were 2-0 up, Iyseden Christie not making the same mistake as his header found the back of the net with just over 20 minutes remaining.

It mattered little to the final outcome as Halesowen were presented with the trophy minutes later leaving Curzon to look forward to their first season in the Evo-Stik Premier Division in August.

Curzon looked to get back into the game but made little headway, and matters were settled when Joe Hull was left unmarked at a free kick and steered his header into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

Curzon were finally rewarded with a consolation goal in stoppage time as Warbuton’s free kick was saved, but Connor Hampson knocked in the loose ball for his second goal in three games.

Match Report by Ian Seymour