Weekend football round-up: Bloods bow out of FA Vase

Droylsden’s stellar FA Vase run came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday as visitors Cockfosters ran out as 4-2 winners at the Butchers Arms.  

The quarter-final tie looked set for penalties after The Bloods clawed themselves back level twice, but two late goals saw the North Londoners progress to the final four. 

It was a nightmare start for Dave Pace’s side, as Ethan Smyth’s wild swipe at George Lutaaya led to an early Cockfosters spotkick, which Kendall Gyamfi duly converted to silence a rampant home crowd. 

But it didn’t take long for the Butchers Arms faithful to find their voice again, as Kyle Campbell fired in at the near post to level the scoring on 28 minutes. 

Despite Droylsden’s dominance, Cockfosters regained their lead before the break, with Jordan Latham diving low to keep out Ollie Sotoyinbo’s free kick, only for Cory Ugbomah to ram home from the rebound. 

Luis Cantello provided a quickfire response, smashing in off the post to restore parity once more in first half stoppage time with a strike which mirrored The Bloods’ opener. 

With penalties on the horizon after a lacklustre second period, the visitors dealt a hammer blow five minutes from time as Sotoyinbo nodded in a third against the run of play to put his side on the brink. 

The hosts were inches away from an instant reply, as Caelan Kilheeney’s cut-back found Sam Oliver, but the substitute was denied from point-blank range by the heroics of Fosters stopper Connor Sansom. 

Any hopes of a comeback were then extinguished completely in added time, as Conrad Holland swept in a fourth to put an end to the home side’s Wembley dream.  

Elsewhere, Stalybridge Celtic kept their NPL West promotion hopes alive with a 4-0 thumping of strugglers Wythenshawe Town.  

Four second half strikes saw Jon Macken’s side close the gap on Vauxhall Motors, who occupy the final play-off spot.  

With the sides level at the break, Andy Scarisbrick wasted no time in breaking the deadlock in the second half, smashing in off the post just a minute after the restart to put Celtic ahead.  

A stellar display from second-half substitute Jack Irlam then saw the visitors romp to victory, with the forward making an instant impact to prod home the second before his pinpoint corner was nodded in by Aaron Chalmers.  

Irlam then put the icing on the cake 10 minutes from time, slotting home a fourth from the spot to compound the hosts’ misery. 

Following the win, Macken told the club: 

“I’m delighted with the three points. 

“Performance wise, I think we were a little bit off it in the first half, we just couldn’t get going. 

“But second half we were excellent, the subs came on and made a big impact, and obviously we took our chances.” 

In the same division, Mossley came from 2-0 down to win 4-3 at Kidsgrove Athletic, extending their unbeaten league run to eight games in the process. 

The Lilywhites trailed by two at the break after a brace from Georgie Jenkins, but a second half resurgence saw them record back-to-back wins for the first time this season. 

Reece Webb-Foster kicked off the fightback eight minutes after the interval, before Joe Adams curled in the leveller just three minutes later. 

Rio Alston completed the turnaround just past the hour, tapping in Obua Mugalula’s cross, only for Nathan Morley to draw the hosts level soon after. 

But Alex Craddock’s side stole all three points deep into added time as a misjudged defensive clearance ricocheted off Webb-Foster and lobbed the opposing goalkeeper.

“There was a lot wrong in the first half,” admitted a relieved Craddock at full-time. 

“But this team don’t know when they’re beat.  

“We’ve showed up in the second half, and I think we’ve done more than enough to win it.” 

In the National League North, Craig Mahon showed no mercy to his former side as AFC Fylde continued their title charge with a 5-1 thrashing of Curzon Ashton. 

The Nash drew first blood on six minutes, which was the only positive on a dismal afternoon at Mill Farm, as Tony Weston raced away on the counter before squeezing the ball beyond Zac Jones. 

Luca Thomas levelled 10 minutes later, before Danny Ormerod gave The Coasters a half time lead with his 24th league goal of the campaign. 

Danny Mayor added a third just after the restart, capitalising on a poor touch from Charlie Weston and slotting past Hawkins. 

A debut goal from Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile followed, before George Wilson took full advantage of Hawkins’ failure to clear his lines and slid home a fifth. 

“It’s a tough one to take,” said Nash boss Mark Bradshaw following the drubbing. 

“The lads who played, I couldn’t fault them for their effort. 

“Unfortunately, as we tired, we made some individual errors that were punished.  

“When you do that, you’re up against it, especially with the quality they’ve got.” 

Meanwhile, in the NPL Premier, Hyde United fell to a 2-1 defeat at Warrington Town, who completed a league double over The Tigers. 

Michael Clegg’s side were unable to build on the 5-0 thrashing of Hednesford last time out, as Elliott Morris’ second-half strike was enough to see The Yellows through. 

The hosts took the lead on 12 minutes through Troy Bourne, who turned in from the rebound after former Tiger Jordan Scanlon’s effort was saved, before Dontai Gabbidon’s perfectly weighted lob cancelled out their advantage just before the break. 

A clinical finish from Morris five minutes inside the second half then saw the home side take the spoils on a sunny afternoon at Cantilever Park. 

“I thought it was a poor game,” revealed Clegg after the final whistle. 

“I don’t think it was a game we deserved to lose, there was just nothing in it. 

“There were just too many lads not at it, and in this league, if you’re not at it, you get beat.” 

Finally, their NPL Premier counterparts Ashton United were held to a 1-1 draw at strugglers Morpeth Town. 

JJ Cooper cancelled out Sean Newton’s early penalty, as The Robins remained in 11th place in the table.