Midweek football round-up: Bloods and Lilywhites ease through

Both Droylsden and Mossley cruised into the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Tuesday with wins over Burscough and Silsden respectively.

Droylsden comfortably saw off their NWCFL Premier counterparts, picking up a 3-0 victory.

The sides met once again at a vacant Butchers Arms following Saturday’s 2-2 draw, as The Bloods served the second and final match of their supporters’ ban.  

After Dave Pace’s side squandered a 2-0 lead in the original tie, the replay proved to be a simpler task.

Cody Artwell nodded Droylsden in front early on, before Jordan Barnett’s long-range strike saw the home side take control of the tie. 

Ivanilson Da Silva then sealed the win with a quarter of an hour to play, notching his first Bloods goal and adding gloss to a five-star display. 

It’s deja vu for Pace’s men this weekend, as they once again face Burscough for the third time in seven days. 

Their visit to the Linnets is followed by Tuesday’s clash with FC Isle of Man, which will see the Butcher’s Arms faithful welcomed back at long last. 

Elsewhere, following Saturday's dramatic comeback - which saw them come from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 - Mossley welcomed their West Yorkshire opponents to Seel Park, putting them to the sword at the second time of asking.

A second half double was enough to see the Lilywhites through to the Preliminary Round, where they will host Bradford Park Avenue. 

With just six minutes gone, the deadlock was broken in bizarre fashion as Connor Marsh’s cross caused the visiting goalkeeper all sorts of problems, resulting in him carrying the ball over his own goal line. 

The teenage winger was involved once again in the second, laying on a plate for Charlie Frost who sealed his side’s place in the next round. 

Meanwhile, it didn't take long for Stalybridge Celtic to bounce back from their opening day defeat to Runcorn Linnets, as Jon Macken got one over on his former employers Witton Albion.

Photo: Connor Pelech / @pelechmedia

The sides were locked at 1-1 at the break, with the hosts drawing level after Josh Granite's early opener, before a dramatic second half ended with Celtic taking all three points.

Witton hit the front with 20 minutes to play, but Ruben Jerome drew the away side level just minutes after.

Benni Smales-Branthwaite then completed the turnaround, firing home the winner with only seven minutes of the 90 to play.

"It was really disappointing to go in level at half time," revealed Macken following the win.

"We gave a silly free kick away and a bit of movement cost us.

"Their second goal, again, was disappointing. We didn't stop it at source, we allowed the lad to come inside and get his shot away. 

"But massive credit to the lads, they dug in, kept going, and the substitutes had a massive impact."

As for Curzon Ashton, following their opening day victory, there was no such joy in midweek as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Bury. 

The hosts took an early lead before a quickfire brace from Tony Weston turned the match on its head on the stroke of half-time. 

But two substitutes combined to drag The Shakers level after the interval, with Mo Touray heading home Kai Evans’ cross before skipper James Nield nodded the hosts in front soon after. 

The visitors were then handed a lifeline in the final minute of the 90 after a late challenge on Harvey Hayhurst saw the referee point to the spot. 

Weston stepped up, looking to seal his hat trick, but his stuttered run up was anticipated well by Mitch Allen, who couldn’t believe his luck as the ball trickled into his grateful grasp. 

"I thought the lads stuck to the game plan, and I thought we created enough chances to win the game," Nash boss Adam Barton told the Reporter following the defeat.

"The way that we conceded the goals was very concerning, but on the flip side of that, those are things that you can work on.

"Not one team that we've played yet has cut us open, and that's the one thing we have worked on and pride ourselves on.

"It's always difficult to come to a ground like this against a side with the resources that they have. They can bring on four players to change the game, and I felt that was the difference today." 

Across town, Ashton United made it two wins from two with a 1-0 win away to Stockton Town. 

Photo: Stockton Town FC

A single second half strike was enough to see the Robins land their third successive win at the home of the Anchors. 

After a goalless first half, the visitors took the lead just three minutes into the second, with Dan Turner squaring expertly for Kurt Willoughby to ram home the opener. 

And things got even worse for the hosts towards the end, as Lewis King was dismissed for a second bookable offence, with Ashton standing firm to bring all three points back to Hurst Cross. 

“It’s a real statement from us,” said a determined Steve Cunningham at full-time. 

“We’ve won three on the spin here now, so we knew we could come here and get a result, but it’s a tough place to come. 

“I’m not saying we’ve come here and battered them, but I think we had the best chances of the game.” 

Finally, Hyde United remain winless following their opening two NPL Premier clashes.

After kicking the 2026/27 campaign off with a goalless draw against newly promoted Emley, Michael Clegg’s side were unable to find the required response in midweek, instead falling to a 3-0 defeat at Warrington Town.