FORTUNES have changed substantially for York City’s National League North hosts tomorrow, Curzon Ashton, since their last encounter – although a host of new arrivals has given them a big boost in front of goal.

When the two met at Bootham Crescent at the start of November, the Nash sat eighth, a position and a point above City. Since that 2-1 defeat, they have tumbled to 17th, picking up just 11 points from 11 games.

The Greater Manchester side have the joint-third fewest home victories in the division with five. Only winless North Ferriby United, AFC Telford United and Leamington - on four each - have enjoyed less success on home soil, while Curzon's total of five draws at their Tameside Stadium is the highest in the division.

And the last of those maximum points returns came in a 2-1 win over Boston United at the end of October, before the first-ever league meeting with City.

Although the most common scoreline in Ashton-under-Lyme is 1-1, with four of their five stalemates ending that way, Curzon have proved they can be a little more outgoing with their latest results.

Nine goals have been scored in their most recent two fixtures, with Premier League Stoke City’s 19-year-old loanee Jake Dunwoody on target twice in his two starts since joining in January.

He opened the scoring at Boston United in the 3-3 draw on Saturday – in which the Nash had taken a three-goal lead before United bagged three goals in 12 minutes to salvage a point – and got the second in Tuesday night’s 3-0 win at Telford with a 30-yard strike into the top-right corner.

Midfielder Ben McKenna has come to the side from league rivals Stockport County and has already made his mark, hitting the target in both the Boston and the Telford games.

Another instant hit is pacey winger Aaron Dwyer, who arrived from North West Counties League Stockport Town and made his debut from the bench in the 2-1 home defeat to Kidderminster Harriers in which he provided the assist for Jonathan Hunt’s goal.

Curzon top-scorer Niall Cummins was, for the first time since Boxing Day, also on the scoresheet midweek to notch his 11th goal of the campaign and to seal the win that lifted them from 19th and three points above the drop zone.

However, midfield stalwart Joe Guest – who has netted on every occasion the Nash have played York City – has not featured in any squad since his sending off at FC United of Manchester three weeks ago.

The lowest Curzon could drop tomorrow would be back down to 19th as although a Gainsborough Trinity win at Chorley would bring them level on points, the Nash have a far superior goal difference.

A win, with all other results going their way, could see them rise to 12th, such is the compactness of the bottom half of the table.