CURZON Ashton might play their home games at the Tameside Stadium, but the ground’s name would perhaps better describe York City’s away performances.

A seventh straight National League North defeat outside of Bootham Crescent certainly did little to dispute the Minstermen’s reputation as the division’s limpest team on the road and subsequently led to Sam Collins’ departure as manager.

The Greater Manchester minnows, who have now defeated the visiting Minstermen for three seasons running, had not managed a clean sheet on their own turf throughout 2018/19 prior to this latest contest, but a toothless away attack failed to muster a single shot from the 33rd minute until deep into stoppage time during an uninspiring contest.

At the other end, City keeper Adam Bartlett only had one save to make all afternoon, but an uncharacteristic mistake saw him spill Ryan Brooke’s 25-yard drive, allowing Ryan Shenton to tap in the 60th-minute goal that earned the hosts a second successive victory – something that their opponents will not now achieve over the course of a one-year period.

It was a familiar story as City succumbed far too easily in modest surroundings, with just three goals having now been scored during those seven fruitless journeys.

Curzon won a precious three points almost by default and there was little indication from their display either to suggest that they will avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation battle during the remainder of the campaign.

The Nash, who continue to exceed expectations at sixth-tier level, should have been put to the sword in a first half when they were unable to exert any authority on proceedings, but City lacked incision in the home box and final third of the pitch.

On six minutes, a clever back-heel by Liam Agnew teed up a diagonal ten-yard chance for Jordan Burrow that he aimed straight at home keeper Cam Mason. After Brooke held off Joe Davis and flashed a 20-yard effort wide, Hamza Bencherif then drove off target after the ball fell to him following a scramble caused by Josh Law’s uncleared corner.

A firmer Burrow half-volley went on to call Mason into a low parry after Bencherif’s aerial muscle had unsettled Curzon’s defence, while Luke Wall’s edge-of-the-box attempt was deflected away from goal by Law.

Burrow’s header from another Law flag kick again failed to extend Mason, before City had a goal disallowed for offside when Wright tapped in after Langstaff, who was played in through the left channel by Agnew, saw his low drive saved by the Nash keeper.

Just past the half-hour mark, Langstaff dragged a hopeful 20-yard shot wide and it would prove the visitors’ last opportunity of the afternoon in normal time.

Before the break, Luke Wall drove waywardly from distance, while Lewis Reilly could not steer a far-post chance on target after Adriano Moke had allowed Brooke to send in a right-wing cross.

Curzon gained further encouragement after the interval as the Minstermen grew increasingly passive.

On 56 minutes, Reilly missed the target from just outside the penalty area after turning Davis, before Shenton capitalised fully on Bartlett’s blunder.

The goal did not provoke any meaningful riposte from the visitors and Oliver Crankshaw might have doubled the lead when he charged on to Wall’s ball through the right channel but shot across the face of goal.

Shenton’s 20-yard dipping effort was then saved comfortably under his crossbar by Bartlett, while Wall found the sidenetting after Davis had failed in two attempts to stop the hosts’ winger.

With time ticking on, Collins threw on Ironside, who has been a big disappointment during his two-month loan spell, but the Kidderminster striker almost grabbed his first goal for the Minstermen in what is likely to be his last appearance.

After Agnew had lifted the ball into the away box, the former Sheffield United forward turned smartly and got away a shot that Mason did well to push around his left-hand upright in the second minute of added-on time.

It was too little, too late to rescue a point, Ironside’s City career in all likelihood and, ultimately, Collins’ job as manager.

City Ratings

Adam Bartlett 4 

Josh Law 4 

Hamza Bencherif 6  

Joe Davis 5 

David Ferguson 5  

Kallum Griffiths 5 

Adriano Moke 4 

Liam Agnew 6 

Jake Wright 6 

Jordan Burrow 5 

Macaulay Langstaff 5 

Substitutes: Alex Harris 4 (for Langstaff, 62), Joe Ironside (for Griffiths, 80).

Subs not used: Nathan Dyer, Ryan Whitley, Kennedy Digie.

Star man: Agnew - willing to receive the ball when others went missing and used it productively 

Curzon Ashton: Cam Mason, Oli Thornley, Jonathan Hunt, Mo Ali, Cameron McJannett (Danny Racchi, 90+2), Luke Wall, Chris Rowney, Ryan Shenton, Ryan Brooke, Oliver Crankshaw, Lewis Reilly (Sean Miller, 78). Subs not used: Mason Fawns, Craig Lingfield, John McAtee.

Curzon star man: Ali – determined on the deck and in the air at heart of home defence

Referee: Aaron Bannister 7/10 – a little fussy, but generally OK

Booked: McJannett 63, Thornley 75

Sent off: None

Shots on target: Curzon Ashton 3, City 4

Shots off target: Curzon Ashton 9, City 2

Corners: Curzon Ashton 3, City 6

Fouls conceded: Curzon Ashton 14, City 15

Offside: Curzon Ashton 1, City 4