End of season round-up: Play-off final heartbreak for Droylsden

It was heartbreak at The Butchers Arms on Saturday as Droylsden slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Euxton Villa in the NWCFL First Division North play-off final, in front of a bumper crowd of 2,568. 

The visitors took the lead on the half hour mark when Alex Colquhoun turned in a cross from Finnley Kent, before Dan Singleton made it two in what was a mirror image of the first goal, with Kai Shorrock the provider on this occasion. 

Dave Pace was unable to find the response he was looking for from his players in the second period, and it was the men from Chorley who went on to achieve promotion to the Premier Division. 

Elsewhere, in the National League North, Curzon Ashton missed out on a play-off spot on the final day after visitors Leamington held the Nash to a 1-1 draw at the Tameside Stadium. 

After other results went the way of Craig Mahon’s side, a win would’ve seen them leap into 6th place, but they were unable to capitalise, falling agonisingly short on goal difference. 

The hosts hit the woodwork in both halves, with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts' effort cannoning back out off the crossbar in the opening period before Stefan Mols’ header clipped the post early in the second. 

A Timi Sobowale own goal 15 minutes from time then put Curzon on the back foot, and Adam Barton’s 92nd minute equaliser was too little too late. 

Despite eclipsing last season’s record points tally, the Nash could only manage an 8th place finish. 

In the division below, the NPL Premier, their Ashton counterparts Ashton United were unable to end their regular season on a high, falling to a heavy 5-1 defeat at Workington. 

The visitors were still in contention at half-time, going in at the break trailing 2-1, but three second half goals from the hosts put them out of sight. 

Steve Cunningham’s side ended the campaign in 5th place, picking up the final play-off spot. 

The Robins are back in action on Tuesday in their play-off semi-final, when they travel to Worksop Town, who ended their season in 2nd. 

It was a similar story for Hyde United, who signed off for 2024/25 with a 1-0 defeat away to Stockton Town. 

Hyde forward Harry Showman had the ball in the net just after the break, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag, and when Stockton skipper Adam Nicholson was shown a red card for an elbow on Brad Holmes, Nick Spooner’s side were given some extra hope. 

But Kevin Hayes’ 81st minute wonder strike from inside his own half condemned The Tigers to back-to-back defeats, with Spooner’s side finishing up in 9th, three places short of last season's 6th place finish.  

In the NPL West, Stalybridge Celtic gave the Bower Fold faithful something to cheer about, picking up a 2-0 win over the league’s basement club City of Liverpool. 

After converting from the spot in last week’s draw with Mossley, Jack Irlam was unable to repeat the feat this time around, hitting the post from 12 yards early on before Benni Smales-Braithwaite fired the home side ahead on 18 minutes. 

A superb free-kick from Lewis Rawsthorn then put Celtic two up before half-time, and it was almost three early in the second, with Irlam heading home Elliot Rokka’s cross but not before the referee’s whistle sounded for a foul on Rokka in the build-up. 

From there, Macken’s side managed to see out the victory with a minimum of fuss, recording a 6th place finish in the process, building on their disappointing 12th place finish last campaign. 

Finally, in the same division, the departing David Fish ended his reign at Mossley in style with a 3-1 win at Hanley Town in his 193rd and final game in charge. 

Sean Kgwakgwa thought he’d put the Lilywhites ahead with just nine minutes on the clock, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. 

Kia Svarc then turned in from close range to put hosts Hanley in front, before Obua Mugalula arrowed into the top corner to level things up. 

Kgwakgwa then had the ball in the net for a second time, but this one would stand, with the midfielder heading in Mugalula’s cross to complete the turnaround. 

Mugalula then smashed in his second five minutes from time to put the win beyond any doubt. 

The win sees Fish’s side end the season in 13th, two places better off than last year.