Curzon Ashton 3 Exeter City 2: THEY said it would be the biggest day in Curzon’s history, but it ended up as one of the biggest days encountered by Tameside or even Greater Manchester.

Curzon Ashton, the side from UniBond League Division One North humbled an Exeter City side in the thick of the League Two promotion race.

This was no lucky one-goal victory. Curzon fully deserved their win and largely controlled the game.

Exeter did not have a clear-cut chance until Steve Basham hit the bar on 62 minutes as the Blues provided a performance in keeping with the Cup’s giantkilling traditions.

It was a day when every man in a blue shirt displayed a heart as big as a lion’s, but the biggest performance came from possibly the smallest player on the field, Gambian international James Ogoo.

He ran, tackled, harried and shot from the first whistle and when he was substituted towards the end of the game, the main stand rose as one to applaud him from the field.

Exeter were a big, strong side, and it seemed that their fitness and organisation would have to tell at some point.

After only three minutes, Phil Edghill put Ogoo through, and eight minutes later the little man stole the ball as the Exter defence were watching, and his long-range shot tested keeper Paul Jones.

On 18 minutes, Ogoo delivered a superb tackle to stop Marcus Stewart as he steadied himself to shoot and then, on 26 minutes, Curzon took the lead.

A poor headed clearance fell to Chris Worsley, who cut inside, evaded a sliding tackle, and looped a deflected shot over the keeper.

Curzon made it comfortably to half-time, and then on 56 minutes, Ogoo produced a piece of magic worthy of a Wembley final.

Receiving the ball from Alex Elliott, he once again proved too nippy for the giant Devon defenders, turning Matt Taylor and scoring with an exquisite chip from the edge of the box.

By now, there was a chance that Curzon might get overconfident. Every time the ball was played up the left, you could sense the feeling of expectation in the crowd.

Exeter then moved Taylor up front and the pressure mounted on the home defence.

Basham hit the bar, Dave Birch had to supply a superb clearing header and Dean Moxey hit the post with 15 minutes remaining.

Yet Curzon had another shot in their locker, and they went 3-0 up through Mike Norton, who beat the offside trap, tore into the box, evaded a despairing tackle from Dan Seabourne and scored with aplomb.

The Exeter fightback eventually came, albeit late but still deadly.

On 84 minutes, Basham scooped the ball over Dave Carnell before Moxey chested down and volleyed home from the edge of the box.

In the midst of this, Exeter defender Matt Gill was sent off for striking Michael O’Connor.

There was to be no stopping the Blues even though four minutes of added time turned into six.

Eventually, the final whistle was sounded, sparking scenes of celebration probably never seen before in Tameside.