"Bucks aim to tame The Nash in season opener at the SEAH Stadium"

Match Date : August 16th, 2025 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

Step 2 action returns to the SEAH Stadium this weekend, when the Bucks host Curzon Ashton in the National League North.

The Nash first joined Step 2 a decade ago, and they’ve since more than established themselves at this level. After a run of comfortable mid-table finishes, Curzon have been in the promotion picture in each of the last two campaigns, finishing 7th in 2023/24 and 8th last year. It might have been so much more for The Nash last season, who had been in the title mix before a run of three wins in 11 to end the campaign saw them miss out on a playoff place on goal difference alone.

The man who turned the Tamesiders into promotion contenders was Craig Mahon, who took over in October 2023 following Adam Lakeland’s departure to King’s Lynn. Originally taking the reins on an interim basis, Mahon went on to guide The Nash to the two highest finishes in their history. And, unfortunately for Curzon, that led to AFC Fylde to come knocking, with Mahon heading to Mill Farm in June.

In need of a new manager, The Nash, as they often do in such situations, promoted from within, with Mark Bradshaw appointed as the new boss. Bradshaw has a 20-year affiliation with the Tamesiders and, in fact, served as manager for the 2019/20 season. Although that campaign was ultimately curtailed due to Covid, Curzon had their worst season at this level and may have gone down in a regular year, as they finished 20th out of 22.

Bradshaw will be hoping for a better showing this time, but his task was made harder by a string of high profile departures. Keeper Bobby Jones left for Boston United, winger Isaac Sinclair joined League Two Accrington Stanley, while Macclesfield paid a fee for dangerous attacker Isaac Buckley-Ricketts. Perhaps the biggest loss, though, was the departure of midfielder Stefan Mols to Tamworth. Mols bagged 23 leagues from midfield over the last two campaigns, and his arrival on Tameside was a big driver of The Nash’s improved form.

Many of Curzon’s summer signings have been younger players, such as midfielders Charlie Weston (Rochdale) and loanee Crispin McLean (Fleetwood) and forwards Brad Holmes (Marine) and Tony Weston (Derby). Solid shot stopper Callum Hawkins joins from Leamington, while veteran defender Chris Stokes (Fylde) adds more experience to the backline.

The new look Nash began the season exactly as Mahon’s side had ended the last campaign: with a 1-1 home draw with Leamington. So, it seems that Curzon are still as competitive as ever and Kevin Wilkin’s men will need to be on their mettle if they are to overcome a side who we tend to struggle against. The Bucks have won three, drawn four and lost seven of our 14 games against the Tamesiders, with The Nash winning both of the most recent encounters during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Bucks will be looking to build on last Saturday’s resilient performance at King’s Lynn, with Wilkin’s men looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 20 games.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online in advance. See our ticketing page for further details.