This weekend's pre-season football roundup

Stalybridge Celtic romped to a 5-1 win at Squires Gate on Saturday as our local sides continued their preparations for the upcoming football season.

Josh Quarless opened the scoring for Celtic inside two minutes, with Jack Irlam netting a brace either side of a Squires Gate reply to give them a 3-1 lead at half-time. 

Second half goals from Moses Masaba and ex-Mossley man Jack Banister put the game to bed. 

“I thought we controlled the game,” Irlam told the club’s YouTube channel. “Pre-season is coming along nicely, and the lads are all looking fit and sharp.” 

Ashton United also won on the road in Lancashire, coming away from Darwen with a convincing 3-0 win. 

Jason Gilchrist, Sam Baird and Jack Massey all scored in the first half at the Anchor Ground. 

Their neighbours Curzon Ashton beat Wythenshawe Town 2-1 in the Bulls Cup semi-final in Jersey.  

A first minute goal from James Spencer and a last-minute tap-in from Marcus Poscha secured the Nash’s spot in today’s final against an Arthurian League representative side.  

Player-manager Craig Mahon brought himself on in the second half and was pleased to see an improvement from their defeat at Hanley Town on Tuesday night. 

“Sometimes you can try too hard,” he told Curzon’s YouTube channel. “But these lads don’t need to impress me, I know what quality they are. I just want them to be themselves and do what they’re good at.” 

Some great work from Fuad Kasali led to Korey Knight’s equaliser for Droylsden at Prestwich Heys.  

The 1-1 draw versus a side who missed the NWCFL Premier Division play-offs on goal difference kept up the Bloods’ unbeaten pre-season record. 

Hyde United had chances to see off newly promoted Wythenshawe FC, but a competitive goalless draw left Tigers boss Nick Spooner rueing those missed opportunities. 

Speaking to Hyde’s YouTube channel, he said, “We’re okay in our third and the middle third, but it’s the final third where we need to be better. We had four or five chances today. 

“That was a real game. They came with good fitness levels, they were quite aggressive on the press, and I thought the first hour was a really good work out.” 

Elsewhere, Mossley lost 1-0 at home to Halifax Town, Euxton Villa got the better of New Mills 2-1, while a late goal from Glossop North End manager Richard Brodie proved to be a consolation as the Hillmen also lost 2-1 at home. 

Midweek Fixtures (all Tuesday July 16, with a 7:45pm kick-off unless stated) 

Atherton LR v Glossop North End 
Droylsden v Wythenshawe Town 
Macclesfield v Stalybridge Celtic
Mossley v Irlam
Ossett United v Curzon Ashton (17/7, 7:45pm) 
Padiham v Ashton United 

Stalybridge Celtic’s friendly against FC United has been cancelled to protect the pitch at Bower Fold.