A LATE goal by Curzon Ashton’s Phil Edghill yesterday afternoon dealt Durham City’s automatic promotion hopes from the uniBond First Division North a severe blow at the Arnott Stadium.

City came back from a goal down to lead 2-1 against ten men. Curzon took the lead after 29 minutes when Edghill pounced on a wayward pass by Steven Capper and set up Michael Norton, who fired past Craig Turns, but City were level on 35 minutes when Gavin Cogdon cleverly sidestepped a challenge, and beat Curzon keeper David Carnell.

The game seemed to swing City’s way on 63 minutes when visiting defender Adam Jones was dismissed for his second bookable offence, and then Keith Graydon put City into the lead with a curling free kick from the edge of the box. In the dying minutes, sub Matty Moffat failed to hit the target when he was clean through.

But in stoppage time, Curzon piled forward for a free kick from the halfway line and in the scramble that followed, Edghill fired the ball home.

Skelmersdale, City’s nearest challengers, are now just a point behind after beating Warrington 4- 0. Newcastle Blue Star, who have got to play Skelmersdale twice, beat Wakefield 1-0 with a goal by Alex Benjamin.

In the skilltrainingltd Northern League second division, Esh Winning must wait until next week before they can clinch promotion after they were held to a 0- 0 draw by already promoted Norton at Waterhouses.

Esh played with ten men for 75 minutes after defender Graham Liddle was red carded for a professional foul on Gary Mitchell. Esh keeper Danny Molyneux pulled off three good saves in the first half, while Shaun Gregory was just wide at the other end.

In the second half, Molyneux finger tipped two efforts over the bar, but right at the end Esh sub Tony Hanson broke away, but Norton keeper James Briggs pushed his effort against the post.

In the first division, Whitley Bay won their local derby by 5-1 at West Allotment, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes. Lee Kerr (2), Paul Chow, Phil Bell and Leon Ryan scored for Whitley, with Keith Douglas replying for Allotment.