Midweek football round-up: Bloods go top

Droylsden climbed to the top of the NWCFL First Division North on Tuesday night with a statement 3-0 win over promotion chasing rivals Nelson.

The Bloods bounced back from Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing at the hands of MSB Woolton to move four points clear of Tuesday’s opponents, who have four games in hand on Dave Pace’s men. 

A bright first half saw the home side take a two-goal lead into the break, with Nellson Van continuing his goalscoring spree and Caelan Kilheeney converting from the spot – making amends for failing to do so in Saturday’s defeat. 

Cody Artwell then sealed the win 15 minutes from time, before Droylsden stopper Jordan Latham preserved his clean sheet late on with a superb penalty save to deny Ryan Cattermole. 

Elsewhere, Mossley got back to winning ways with a 3-2 win at home to NPL West strugglers Congleton Town. 

The visitors were inches away from levelling the match in the dying moments, but The Lilywhites held on to move nine points clear of the relegation zone. 

It was The Bears who drew first blood on just two minutes when Kieran Knapper cut in from the right and fired into the bottom left corner, but the scoreline was back level less than 10 minutes later. 

Mossley forward Reece Webb-Foster came close to finding an instant response, latching onto an under hit back pass and rounding the onrushing goalkeeper, but could only find the side netting with his effort. 

There were no signs of this miss affecting the striker though, as he was at the heart of the home side’s equaliser soon after, laying it on a plate for Rio Alston to tap home at the back post and restore parity. 

Webb-Foster then had the chance to give the hosts the lead just past the half hour mark, but could only blaze over from Jack Marrow’s cutback. 

The Lilywhites finally found the breakthrough at the start of the second half, when skipper Mark Lees smashed in from close range at the third attempt, following a smart double save from Congleton stopper David Parton. 

From there, Alex Craddock’s side took control, with Sean Kgwakgwa sweeping in a third 10 minutes later. 

But the away side were far from finished, with substitute Tom Hampton turning in to halve the deficit in stoppage time and make for a nervy final few moments. 

Mossley hearts were in mouths when Max McCarthy glanced a header goalwards in the dying embers, but the Seel Park faithful could breathe a sigh of relief as the ball flicked back out off the post. 

“It’s a massive three points,” Craddock told the Reporter following the win. 

“Conceding after two minutes, you think, is it going it be one of those days? But to come back from 1-0 down so early was massive. 

“Other than the last few minutes after they scored the second, I think we looked pretty comfortable. 

“Obviously I wish it wasn’t such a nervy finish, but it’s a really good three points.” 

In the National League North, Curzon Ashton were agonisingly close to their second straight win on Tuesday night, only to be denied by a 97th minute equaliser from visitors Bedford Town. 

Braces from Alex Curran and Tyrone Marsh saw the points shared on a topsy turvy evening at the Tameside Stadium. 

The Nash went behind initially, with Marsh turning in from the rebound to put the visitors ahead just after the interval, before Curran slotted home the leveller on the hour mark. 

The midfielder then rounded off a superb solo run in style, smashing past Lutra to seal his brace and complete the turnaround 13 minutes from time. 

But there was still time for some late drama, with Marsh curling in his second deep into stoppage time to break Curzon hearts and take his league tally to 22 for the season. 

“I’m pleased with the performance, but ultimately we’ve let two points get away from us,” said a disappointed Mark Bradshaw following the defeat. 

“We did enough throughout the game to score more than two, and controlled the game from large parts. 

“But their striker is the leading goalscorer in the league for a reason, and he’s hit one in the dying seconds that no keeper in the world would’ve saved. 

“Ultimately, it almost feels like a defeat.” 

Meanwhile, Michael Clegg’s wait for a win as Hyde United boss goes on as his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Lancaster City. 

A goal in each half saw the points shared at the Giant Axe, as The Tigers moved to within a point of safety. 

The visitors opened the scoring on 23 minutes, when Ben Kershaw capitalised on an error at the back before feeding Edy Maieco, who made no mistake with the finish. 

But the hosts hit back 13 minutes from the end through Lewis Mansell, who turned in at the second attempt after Steven Yawson’s initial effort was saved.  

“I thought it was a fair result,” revealed Clegg at full-time. 

“If you’re gonna give away a goal like that in the second half then you don’t deserve much, it’s such a poor goal from us. 

“But it’s a tough place to come, not many come here and take points. 

“We knew tonight was going to be tough and that’s what it proved to be.” 

Finally, Ashton United slumped to their second straight defeat after Gainsborough Trinity left Hurst Cross as comfortable 3-0 winners. 

A brace from Jonathon Margetts and a header from Ashton Offler saw Trinity move four points clear of The Robins, whose hopes off a play-off spot appear to be diminishing.