Midweek football round-up: Nash clip Linnets' wings

Curzon Ashton moved within a point of the National League North play-offs on Tuesday with a 3-0 win at home to King’s Lynn Town. 

Tony Weston drew first blood on 24 minutes, finding space in behind before poking the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper and turning in from a tight angle. 

Visitors King’s Lynn came close to levelling the scoring just a minute later, with Adam Marriott rattling the post before Reece Hall-Johnson produced a flying save from Callum Hawkins moments later. 

Marriott had another golden opportunity just after the break, with the ball falling to the forward just inside the area, but with Hawkins beaten, Curzon full-back Jordan Richards was on hand to produce a heroic goal line clearance to keep his side in front. 

The Nash managed to withstand second half pressure from the away side and finished the game off with a superb breakaway goal seven minutes from time. 

Adam Barton’s inch perfect through ball set Alex Curran away, and with Linnets goalkeeper Aaron Chapman once again finding himself in no man's land, Curran showed composure to take the ball around him and slide into the empty net. 

Mark Bradshaw’s side then put the icing on the cake deep into added time when Brad Holmes completed a trio of identical goals, once again exploiting the visitors’ high line before rounding Chapman and smashing into the roof of the net. 

“It was just a really pleasing all-round performance,” Bradshaw told the Reporter following the win. 

“I still think we’re quite a way off being as good as we can be, but that only comes with experience for players who haven’t played many games at this level. 

“But on the whole, another clean sheet, three good goals, and a really positive three points.” 

Elsewhere, Mossley got back to winning ways after a convincing 3-0 win at home to promotion hopefuls Atherton Collieries. 

Former Hyde midfielder Callum Stringer fired the Lilywhites ahead just past the half-hour mark, finishing off a swift counter attack and opening his account for the club. 

Alex Craddock’s side started the second-half with a bang, with Reece Webb-Foster adding a second just two minutes after the break. 

The hosts then put the match beyond any doubt, scoring on the break once again in the final minute of the 90, with Rio Alston adding the finishing touch this time around. 

Fellow NPL West side Stalybridge Celtic failed to bounce back from Saturday’s loss to Avro, instead falling to a 4-0 thrashing at Stafford Rangers. 

Celtic found themselves trailing by two at the break thanks to early strikes from Joe Thomas and Kaiman Anderson, and things didn’t get much better in the second period. 

Callum King-Harmes added a third from the spot deep into added time after he was brought down inside the area by Charlie Doyle, who was given his marches after a second yellow card. 

There was still time for more, with Anderson adding insult to injury with his second strike of the evening in the seventh minute of injury time. 

“We lost the game in the first half,” said a seething Jon Macken at full time. 

“It was a terrible mistake for the first goal, I don’t know what Jack and Charlie were doing. 

“There’s going to have to be changes to the team, and there’s going to have to be a massive improvement, it’s not good enough. 

“I thought we played well defensively against Avro but tonight was nowhere near the standards that we expect, I’m disappointed.” 

In the NPL Premier, Hyde United bounced back from their disappointing exit from the FA Trophy with a narrow 1-0 win away to Prescot Cables. 

The Tigers secured the signing of former Stalybridge Celtic, Ashton United and Curzon Ashton midfielder Max Harrop prior to kick-off, but the 32-year-old was only fit enough for a place on the bench. 

It was hosts Prescot who had the pick of the chances early on, with Ben Elliot and Tony Donaldson both seeing their efforts fly just over Yusuf Mersin’s crossbar, but the away side would take the lead against the run of play on 26 minutes. 

An inswinging corner was met by the head of Nyal Bell, who powered in the opener, which turned out to be a decisive one. 

“We went back to basics,” said Tigers boss Martin Coyne following the victory. 

“I think all in all we were deserved winners, we probably could’ve had a few more again, but it was a great three points.” 

Meanwhile, Ashton United couldn’t build on their impressive win over Stockton Town at the weekend, with hosts Warrington Town seeing off The Robins by a single goal. 

After a goalless first-half, Warrington went ahead on the hour through Reece Daly’s long-range effort, before Niall Watson headed in a second 15 minutes later. 

Visitors Ashton fought back almost instantly, with former Yellows forward Enock Lusiama tapping home at the back post two minutes later, but were unable to find an equaliser, with Luca Navarro coming the closest as his shot cannoned off the upright. 

Finally, Droylsden crashed out of the Edward Case Cup after a 3-1 defeat at home to AFC Blackpool. 

Early goals from Mamudu Touray and James Hughes put the visitors in control early on, before Cody Artwell pulled one back ahead of the break. 

The next goal would be crucial, and it was the away side who found it, with Anthony Topolski sealing his side’s place in the next round late on and condemning The Bloods to back-to-back defeats.