Wednesday's First Division North action review

The only game in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's First Division North on Wednesday night was a crucial one involving leaders Curzon Ashton, who travelled to third-placed Darlington 1883, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

And the outcome was a surprisingly comfortable 4-0 win for the leaders, who are now nine points clear of second-placed Warrington Town and twelve of Darlo with a game in hand.

Conditions were dreadful with a howling gale blowing straight down the pitch, but the terrific crowd of 1,429 was Darlington`s second biggest of the season to date.

Playing against the wind in the opening half, Curzon took a 20th minute lead when Matty Warburton headed in a floated cross. The second half saw the visitors destroy a surprisingly poor Darlo side, going 2-0 up eight minutes into the half when Warburton rounded Mark Bell to score his second of the game and 23rd of the season to date.

And just four minutes later it was game over as the visitors made it 3-0 when a poor clearance by Alan White fell to Ryan Brooke to beat Bell. Curzon`s fourth of the night, right on time, was a comedy of errors at the back that ended with Mark Bett converting.