Weekend football round-up: Bloods book play-off final place

Droylsden won through to the play-off final of NWCFL First Division North after a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out win over Holker Old Boys.

The Bloods failed to beat their Barrow-based visitors in two regular season games, including throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 just three weeks ago. 

Despite Dave Pace’s side having the better of the first half at the Butchers Arms on Saturday, they fell behind on 36 minutes when full-back Joe Amison headed a headed past a stranded Dale Latham. 

The home team came out at full pelt after the break, with Harry Shipton coming closest with a shot that flew over the bar following a rapid counterattack. 

It proved to be a sighter for the former Cheadle Town wide man, who tapped in his first goal for the Bloods on 63 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball from another corner. 

Droylsden continued to press for a winner but couldn’t find a breakthrough, so the game went straight to penalties. 

Caelan Kilheeney converted Droylsden’s first spot kick while Jamie Hodgson hit the post for Holker. Bloods captain Liam Moran and Holker’s Will McGladdery both scored the second penalties, with Harry Shipton making it 3-1 to the home side. 

Adam Latham saved the third Holker penalty, and although their keeper Matt Bailey stopped Harry Forshaw from settling the tie, Joe Amison’s skied his effort to give Droylsden the victory. 

They’ll face Euxton Villa at home in the play-off final next Saturday, who overcame Nelson in an epic 10-9 penalty shootout win. 

In the National League North, Curzon Ashton can still make it into the play-offs despite a goalless home draw against Alfreton Town on Friday. 

Although the visitors smacked the post from an early freekick, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was the Nash’s creative force in the first half, carving out a pair of chances for himself that he couldn’t bend past George Sykes-Kenworthy in the Alfreton net. 

Captain Jimmy Spencer came close to converting a Stefan Mols cross, too, but his effort whizzed over the bar. 

It was a repeat performance after the break, with Curzon creating the bulk of the opportunities without calling Sykes-Kenworthy into serious action. 

Mike Afuye had a golden opportunity to seal the tie in stoppage time, but his shot couldn’t match the quality of IBR’s jinking run, firing over from the far post. 

“It’s frustrating because we had chances to win or get a goal at least,” said player-boss Craig Mahon. “It’s one of them, we’ve not got beaten, and I know results probably haven’t gone our way, but we’re still in the mix. 

“There’s still two games to go and there’s going to be more twists and turns. 

“There’s a couple of down heads in there because we wanted to go and win it, but we got 75 points last season which was a club record and we’re two points away from that with two games left. 

“For me to watch this team replicate that is brilliant, and we have a chance to break another record at the club.” 

In the Nothern Premier League (NPL), Ashton United continued to stumble towards the finishing line with a 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Bamber Bridge. 

Darius Osei and James Hardy came close for the Robins in the early knockings before Emerich Poilly – a deadline day signing from Clitheroe – opened the scoring for the home side on 12 minutes after a bombastic run into the Ashton box. 

Osei and Hardy continued their double act to equalise on 24 minutes, Hardy finding Osei on the left side of the box, who cut onto his right foot to cannon home his 21st goal of the campaign. 

Ashton goalie Connor Eastham kept the scores level moment later in making a double save from Jack Baxter and veteran striker Mark Cullen. 

Ex-Hyde United loanee Ewan Bange came close to just before half-time, but he scored his 6th goal in 11 games since rejoining Brig to make it 2-1 on the hour mark. 

The Robins almost drew level on 88 minutes when substitute Tom Denton brought a full-length save out of Charlie Casper, with the follow-up cross from Josh Doherty somehow evading everybody in the box. 

“That save was outrageous,” Ashton boss Steve Cunningham said. “It’s one of the best saves of the season. He’s going to go on and have a great career, and he’s made a massive contribution to their safety with that save. 

“It was a tough one to take. I don’t think we deserved to lose that game by any stretch. 

“Everything seems to be going against us at the moment. You can tell we were playing a team who were fighting for their lives to stay in the league, and I think they did their fans, their club and the management team proud. 

“The last 15-20 minutes we’ve thrown absolutely everything at it.” 

Ashton United have now won twice in ten league matches but have a four-point advantage over 6th-place Ilkeston Town with just two games to go. 

Hyde United put their Manchester Premier Cup final woes behind them with a hard-fought 2-1 win at already relegated Basford United. 

The Tigers were comfortable in the first half, with Matt Fearnley, Jack Redshaw and Callum Spooner all coming close before Brad Holmes notched his 4th goal in five league games on 34 minutes. 

He came close to doubling Hyde’s advantage just before the break, but Harvey Woodward was equal to his placed header. 

The home side rallied straight after half-time, Revarnelle James bundling in from close range after Hyde couldn’t clear a corner. 

However, the Tigers kept their cool and on 71 minutes Drew Baker flung himself at a Joel Amado header to restore Hyde’s lead and secure a 3rd win from four league matches. 

“I said to the boys that we needed a reaction, and I thought we were comfortable,” said manager Nick Spooner. 

“We broke through them a lot today, but we just lacked that killer pass or finish. 

“We had a tinkle with the formation to be a bit more secure at the back, so I just wanted to compact the midfield today and instruct the full backs that if one goes, the other sits at home. 

“Off the ball we were good, and on the ball I thought we played some great stuff. 

“We should have scored more, but that’d been our Achilles’ heel this year, but it’s three points and I’m pleased with it.” 

In the NPL West, Stalybridge Celtic ran riot against Vauxhall Motors but could only come away from Bower Fold with a 1-1 draw, thanks to the heroics of visiting goalkeeper Alex Swindell. 

He was called into early action by Celts captain Liam Tongue but was equal to his trademark drive from the edge of the box. 

Lewis Rawsthorne also stung the keeper’s gloves, while Jack Irlam spurned a pair of chances before the evergreen Kevin Ellison gave the Motormen the lead against the run of play on 37 minutes.  

There was still time for Tongue to draw another save from Swindell before the break, but he finally found the net on 52 minutes with a daisy cutter from outside the area to make it 1-1. 

Not to be left out, Stalybridge custodian Charlie Monks pulled off a wonder save from Ellison moments later to keep parity. 

Bridge laid siege to the Motors’ goal, with Rawsthorn twice coming close and the ball being punted off their line as the clock ticked down and the away side were reduced to ten men. 

Mossley head into Easter Monday’s derby against Stalybridge on the back of 2-0 away defeat at title-chasing Hednesford. 

Goals either side of half-time from Dominic McHale and Jake Jervis were enough to see the Pitmen over the line. 

In the North West Counties Premier Division, goals from Keaton Mulvey bookended Glossop North End’s 4-0 win over Pilkington. 

Lewis Reilly’s 23rd of the season made it 2-0 before half-time, with Kyle Worsley adding a third midway through the second period before Mulvey wrapped up the scoring and an eventful season for the Hillmen.