Easter weekend football round-up: Celtic secure seventh straight win

Stalybridge Celtic recorded their seventh straight league victory on Good Friday, seeing off Witton Albion 3-1 to move a step closer to securing an NPL West play-off spot. 

A brace from the free-scoring Jack Irlam saw the visitors through as Jon Macken came back to haunt his former employers and extend his side’s unbeaten run to 13. 

Irlam opened the scoring inside nine minutes when his glancing header squeezed in at the near post, before Ruben Jerome volleyed in Jordan Butterworth’s looping cross for a superb second soon after. 

With just 35 minutes on the clock, Irlam sealed his brace and virtually wrapped up the contest, arrowing into the far right corner to net his 10th goal in just seven matches. 

Freddy Garbutt’s 83rd minute header came far too late as far as the hosts were concerned, as Celtic saw the match out and opened up a six-point gap on sixth-placed Lower Breck. 

“For 90+ minutes, we were outstanding,” said a delighted Jon Macken at full-time. 

“Especially first half, I thought we controlled the game, created some good chances and got three goals. 

“Defensively, we withstood it in the second half, and it shows the mentality of the group that they’ve gone in disappointed because we’ve conceded.” 

Elsewhere, in the NPL Premier, Ashton United got back to winning ways in dramatic fashion at Hurst Cross. 

The Robins were dealt a hammer blow when visitors Rushall Olympic found a stoppage time equaliser, only for Callum Spooner’s 95th minute strike to spare their blushes. 

James Hardy broke the deadlock with just 19 minutes to play when his sweetly struck half volley nestled into the top left corner. 

Osaze Okuonghae’s late diving header then looked to have rescued a point, before Spooner poked home the winner in the dying moments as the silenced Hurst Cross faithful found their voice again. 

“Every man to a T was unbelievable today," said Robins boss Steve Cunningham following the win. 

“I thought it was some of the best attacking football we’ve played, we should’ve won three or four nil. 

“When they scored, that hurt me, so for Callum to go and score – wow, what a feeling.” 

There was also late drama involving their Ashton counterparts, Curzon Ashton, who rescued a point at Radcliffe thanks to two stoppage time strikes.  

With The Nash looking down and out, a heroic fightback saw them cling onto the eight-point buffer between themselves and the National League North drop zone. 

Hosts Radcliffe took a 1-0 lead into the break after Rio Clegg’s deflected effort found a way past Hawkins, but Tony Weston drilled Curzon level just five minutes after the interval. 

Clegg then sealed his brace on the hour, heading in off the crossbar before Lois Maynard tapped home from close range to give The Boro a two-goal advantage. 

But with time running out, it was two substitutes who turned the tide. 

The returning Jimmy Spencer steered in a header to give his side a glimmer of hope, before Ruben Curley’s long-range effort completed the comeback deep into added time. 

“First half, with the wind, we just couldn’t get out,” revealed Curzon boss Adam Barton following the dramatic draw. 

“The game plan was just to be solid, keep our shape and frustrate them. 

“But when we went in at 1-0, we had to take the game to them. 

“I thought second half we came out, we were on top, and again fell short to two individual errors. 

“But I made a few changes, and the character from the lads was fantastic.” 

In the NPL West, Mossley were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage as 10-man visitors Nantwich Town held them to a 1-1 draw at Seel Park. 

The Dabbers came from behind to ensure the points were shared, as The Lilywhites extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches. 

The home side went ahead after just 12 minutes when Gee Baltazar’s corner was poorly dealt with by Ben Garratt, whose soft punch allowed Joe Adams to volley in off the post. 

Things got worse for the visitors on the hour when former Ashton United defender James Baillie was shown a red card for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity. 

But Nantwich responded well to the dismissal, and found the leveller 18 minutes from time when Paddy Kennedy drove home from the edge of the box. 

“I don’t think it’s a good point, it’s certainly two points dropped,” said a frustrated Alex Craddock after the stalemate. 

“I’m really disappointed with how we played when they went down to 10, I’ve never seen us be so naive and thoughtless with the ball. 

"It was just a pretty poor game to be fair.” 

Meanwhile, Saturday saw Hyde United draw by the same scoreline at Guiseley, to extend the gap between themselves and the bottom three. 

Jack Redshaw’s first half header saw The Tigers move a point clear of 19th placed Prescot Cables, whom they also sit above on goal difference. 

Hosts Guiseley hit the front with just five minutes on the clock through Joao Silva, before Hyde almost hit back through Tunde Owolabi, who saw his effort kept out at the near post. 

Redshaw then got his side back on level terms just before the break, nodding in at the back post after the corner was missed by the onrushing goalkeeper. 

“I thought we showed a different side to ourselves today,” said Michael Clegg after the final whistle. 

“I thought we grew into the game, but they caused us problems, and coming to Guiseley at this time in the season and getting a point, you’ve got to be happy with it.” 

Finally, in the NWCFL First Division North, Droylsden lost further ground in the title race as visitors Ashton Town came from 2-0 down to take the spoils at The Butchers Arms. 

The Bloods stormed into an early lead thanks to goals from Jordan Barnett and Kyle Campbell, but three second half strikes saw the away side turn the match on its head. 

Barnett opened the scoring on six minutes, scoring directly from a corner, before Campbell slotted in a second just five minutes later. 

Noah Inneh pulled a goal back for the visitors on 64 minutes, and they were back level in a flash thanks to Michael Howard’s header. 

And things would go from bad to worse for Dave Pace’s side as Adam Morris’ 94th minute effort found its way past Latham. 

Droylsden’s promotion hopes now seemingly rest on the play-offs, with rivals Nelson sitting four points clear of The Bloods with three games to play.