ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, England (Interstat) — Marine AFC delivered a measured performance to secure a 2-1 victory over Curzon Ashton in an FA Trophy encounter at Tameside Stadium on Saturday, advancing in the competition while avenging a heavy league defeat from earlier in the season.

The visitors, who suffered a 4-0 loss to Curzon Ashton in a league fixture just two months prior, controlled significant portions of the match. They established a two-goal lead before halftime and managed the game effectively in the second half to see out the result.

Marine opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Midfielder Alex Curran found the net with a composed finish, giving the Merseyside club a crucial advantage on the road. The lead was doubled just before the interval, in the 40th minute, when Finlay Sinclair-Smith added a second goal. His strike provided Marine with a commanding cushion and shifted the tactical burden onto the home side.

The second half saw Curzon Ashton, known as the Nash, push forward in an attempt to salvage the tie. They managed to pull a goal back, setting up a tense finale, but could not find an equalizer against a disciplined Marine defense. The visitors’ organization and game management in the closing stages proved decisive, denying Curzon Ashton clear-cut opportunities to level the score.

The outcome marked a significant reversal from the teams’ previous meeting in October and defied pre-match projections. Statistical analysis firm Interstat had given Curzon Ashton a 64.7 percent probability of winning the match, with its game simulator predicting a 1-1 draw.

With the win, Marine AFC improved its perfect record in this season’s FA Trophy to two wins and no losses. The club’s overall form across all competitions now stands at six wins, three losses and one draw. The victory also extends a pattern of resilience; Marine has now won four of its last five matches in all competitions following a three-game winless streak in late October and early November.

For Curzon Ashton, the defeat levels its FA Trophy record at one win and one loss this season. The club’s broader campaign across all competitions now shows two wins and one loss. This result interrupted a positive run, as Curzon Ashton had won its two most recently played competitive fixtures prior to Saturday, albeit with a two-month gap since its last official match.

The FA Trophy, a knockout competition for clubs in the fifth through eighth tiers of English football, continues with Marine AFC progressing to the next round. The result underscores the competitive parity within the non-league pyramid, where pre-game statistical favorites are frequently challenged. Marine will look to carry this momentum forward, while Curzon Ashton will aim to rebound in its upcoming league schedule.