Reds Reserves returned to Lancashire League action on Wednesday but, in their first outing for a month, suffered a crushing home defeat against a slick Curzon outfit.

It left manager Steve Lee crestfallen after what he described as their worst performance of the season.

All the damage was done in a disastrous first half with the visitors effectively home and dry after just fifteen minutes.
 
They opened the scoring with just eleven minutes on the clock with a goal as good as you could wish to see (even if it was against your own team).  Nathan Martin crossed superbly from the left and Craig Gummersall netted with a spectacular diving header.

Two minutes later, they doubled their advantage with Aiden Phillips heading home from close range following a free-kick needlessly conceded on Reds’ goal line near the corner flag.

Reds were having a decent period immediately before conceding the third – a swift counter attack which saw Adam Kay race clear down the right and supply the perfect pass which the talented Avian Sunday swept home in style.

The fourth came just before the break when Gummersall, given too much time and space, found the target with a crisp low shot from the edge of the area.

To compound a miserable evening, Dan McDermott limped out of the action at the interval after sustaining an ankle injury while a lack of discipline saw Adam Main and Dan Gullen pick up a yellow card apiece.   

Reserves:  Lee Jolly, Simon Bragg, Sam Smith, Dion Barnes, Dan McDermott (Jake Smith 46 mins), Lee McCullough, Dan Gullen, Adam Main, Callum Killick, Gareth Brunton, Andrew Bromley.  Substitute – Levi Johnson (not used).