Boxing Day football round-up: Double derby day stalemate

Both Tameside derbies in this year’s Boxing Day schedule ended all square, with Ashton United rescuing a late point at home to neighbours Hyde United, while Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic played out a goalless draw at Seel Park. 

Charlie Heyes-Green's stoppage time header saw the Robins snatch a late equaliser on derby day for the second year running, after the Tigers had largely dominated proceedings at Hurst Cross. 

The visitors would have taken a deserved lead into the break had it not been for the heroics of former Hyde stopper Jordan Eastham, who spread himself well to deny Lewis Rawsthorn from close range before sprawling down to his left to keep out Matty Fearnley’s follow up effort. 

Hyde’s pressure continued after the interval, with Ben Kershaw finding himself 1v1 with Eastham after an inch perfect through ball from Shakeel Jones-Griffiths, but the midfielder could only blaze his effort over the top. 

Ashton’s first real chance of the afternoon came just past the hour, with Louis White rattling the crossbar from distance before seeing his looping volley dip inches over the upright. 

With time ticking away, the Tigers finally found a way past a resolute Robins defence, with Kershaw making up for his earlier miss with an inch perfect lob which looked certain to have won it a minute from time. 

But Steve Cunningham’s side had other ideas, with Heyes-Green steaming in unmarked at the back post to nod past Mersin and send Hurst Cross into a frenzy. 

“No team deserved to lose the game,” said Cunningham after the stalemate. 

“I don’t think we did enough to win, and I don’t think they did enough either. 

“They probably feel a bit hard done by, they’ve had a few chances, but so did we.” 

“For 92 minutes I thought we dominated the game,” said a frustrated Martin Coyne at full-time. 

“It goes back to what we speak about week in week out, we had chances first half to change the course of the game, and we didn’t take them. 

“And in the last 10 seconds, we just switched off.” 

Across the borough, both Jon Macken and Alex Craddock agreed that their sides’ draw reflected a fair result. 

Both teams had chances to score early on, with Charlie Monks keeping out Connor Hughes’ header before the former’s opposite number produced a similar save to deny Andy Scarisbrick, but a goalless afternoon in front of over 2000 spectators saw the points shared.  

“I think a point is a really fair result,” said a content Craddock following the final whistle. 

“I think both teams probably had the mentality of, ‘if you can’t win, don’t lose’. It was really cagey for large parts. 

“A point is decent, they’re in really good form, and we’re not particularly.” 

In the opposite dugout, Macken was in agreement: 

“I think a point is probably fair. 

“We can be disappointed that we’ve not got the three points, and we are to a certain extent. 

“But to come away to Mossley who are a good team, and get a clean sheet, I suppose you’ve got to take the positives away from it.” 

Elsewhere, in the National League North, Curzon Ashton fell to a 3-0 defeat to nearby Radcliffe. 

The visitors were gifted an opportunity to take the lead early on when Jordan Hulme was hauled down in the area by Joel Amado, with Rio Clegg making no mistake from the spot and sending Hawkins the wrong way. 

This lead was doubled just minutes later when Rick Smith bundled in at the back post, and things would not get any better for the Nash in the second period. 

On his return to his former club, Mikey Afuye curled in a superb cross which Hulme flicked beyond Hawkins for the away side’s third of the afternoon, capping off a comfortable victory. 

“That’s two weeks on the run that we’ve conceded a penalty, it’s a gift of a goal,” said a disappointed Mark Bradshaw after the defeat. 

“On the whole, the game was quite even, they just defended their box better than we did today. 

“We showed a lot of character, and I feel that the subs who came on did well, but on the whole, it’s a really disappointing day.” 

In the NWCFL First Division North, Droylsden got back to winning ways with a narrow 2-1 victory over local rivals Maine Road. 

After having one cleared off the line early on, Luis Cantello broke the deadlock on 25 minutes, firing home the opener before Nelson Van added a second 10 minutes later, finishing off a superb team move to put the Bloods in control. 

After a flurry of late chances, the visitors finally found a way past Jordan Latham, but Joseph Keysworth’s header five minutes from time was too little too late as far as they were concerned. 

The win sees Dave Pace’s side maintain the three point gap between them and leaders Nelson, with the Bloods currently occupying fourth spot, as they look to kick the new year off with a bang at home to basement club Garstang next week. 

Finally, in the NWCFL Premier, Glossop North End got back to winning ways with a hard fought 1-0 win at play-off hopefuls Irlam. 

A first half penalty from Jordan Schofield was enough to see the Hillmen through, who withstood a barrage of late pressure from the hosts to take the spoils. 

“We just needed to show that grit and determination,” said a delighted Lee Wilshaw following the victory. 

“You can’t always expect to dominate games of football, but to a man the players got the result.” 

The win sees Wilshaw’s side move up to 12th in the table.