JOHN FLANAGAN couldn’t have scripted a better way for Curzon Ashton to win the title – it gave them their very own Sergio Aguero moment!
Curzon’s 1-0 win at Harrogate RA last Monday clinched the Evo-Stik NPL North championship.
But it was the manner they did it in that Flanagan enjoyed most.
First keeper Hakan Burton saved a 75th-minute penalty – on their way to a tenth clean sheet in a row – before Niall Cummins headed a 91st-minute winner to spark wild celebrations.
And for Flanagan it brought back memories of City’s dramatic last-kick Premier League win in 2012.
“To win it in that dramatic fashion makes it even more special in a way – it was a bit like an Aguero moment,” Flanagan told The NLP.
“It was looking like it was going to be 0-0, then we conceded a penalty and we’d had this great run of clean sheets so I thought, ‘Hey up, we’re going to lose this game and it’s going to break our run’.
“Our keeper is very good one-on-one, he makes the save and it gave everyone belief for the last minutes. We just felt we could get it. It was exciting and we had a great ride home.”
Curzon were the Division One North’s nearly men in recent seasons, missing out on promotion in the play-offs five times in the last six seasons.
“I’m really pleased for the people who run Curzon – Harry Galloway, Harry Tamley, Rob Hurst the secretary and everyone – because they’ve been there or thereabouts in the past,” Flanagan said.
“I like the play-offs but it’s nice to get promoted without them. We have been beaten and we know it’s gut-wrenching, but to win the league is the key and a great achievement.
“In my first season we finished second and I felt we had to step forward and improve the side technically. I brought in what were, on paper, better players. But the changing room wasn’t as tight.
“This season I made a conscious decision to bring in a certain type of mind-set. The strength of character in the team is what has shone the brightest.”
And Flanagan, whose side’s 12-match unbeaten streak leading up to the title included 11 wins, says it’s important they set their sights high in Step 3 next season.
“We’ve got to target play-off places,” he said. “We don’t want to go in there saying we’ve got to consolidate – it’s not about that. I’ve no doubt if we go about it the right way we can hold our own and challenge.”
