Weekend football round-up: Curzon edge all-Tameside clash

Curzon Ashton cruised into the FA Trophy first round proper on Saturday with a 3-1 win at home to Tameside neighbours Stalybridge Celtic.  

The NPL West visitors drew themselves level before the break, but Brad Holmes’ second half brace proved the difference at the Tameside Stadium.  

Hosts Curzon stormed into an early lead, with Ola Lawal there to ram home from the rebound after Holmes’ initial effort was saved.  

But Celtic fought back on the stroke of half time, with Ellis Horan steering home from a matter of yards after superb work down the left from Lewis Rawsthorn.  

The former Bury man left Marcus Poscha for dead with a delightful nutmeg on the by-line, before drilling across for Horan, who couldn’t miss.  

Adam Barton’s side were left stunned, having dominated the opening stages, but dusted themselves off to regain their advantage on the hour, with Holmes losing his footing but showing great composure to sweep in the second.  

More drama followed, with Jon Macken’s side coming inches away from another equaliser, as Poscha headed onto his own crossbar.  

But the tie was put to bed once and for all when Holmes sealed his brace with just two of the 90 to play, sliding in at the back post to turn Harvey Hayhurst’s cross over the line and extinguish any hopes of a late turnaround. 

“I’m very pleased,” Barton told the Reporter following the victory. 

“The lads stuck to the task, stuck to the instructions, and they delivered. 

“The message at 1-1 was don’t panic and keep doing what you’re doing, we did that, and we ended up getting the result we deserved.” 

In slightly nervier circumstances, their Ashton counterparts Ashton United also progressed, seeing off hosts Warrington Town via a penalty shootout. 

Credit: Colin Keown - @Pyramid_Pix

The Robins conceded at the death to draw 2-2, but dusted themselves down to net all five spot kicks and seal their place in the next round. 

Kurt Willoughby’s superb header opened the scoring before Jack Goodwin’s low strike squirmed through the grasp of Tommy Taylor to send the sides in level. 

Steve Cunningham’s side then regained their advantage with 20 to play, as Willoughby kept his cool from the spot following a late challenge on Darius Osei. 

But there was still to be another twist, with Yellows forward Rio Hawkins scrambling home an equaliser deep into stoppage time to force penalties. 

After Lewis Earl rattled the bar from 12-yards, Scott Burgess slotted in Ashton’s fifth to spare his side’s blushes. 

Following the victory, Cunningham was keen to heap praise on one of his young defenders: 

“I thought young Spencer [Knight] was the best player on the pitch by a country mile today. 

“His parents were stood next to me and I just said, you should be so proud of him. 

“He’s a central midfielder who’s 18, and he’s played centre mid, right wing, right back, left back and left wing back this season already. 

“I watched him in awe at times, he played well above his years.” 

Meanwhile, Hyde United also progressed after a 2-0 home win over NPL Premier strugglers FC United of Manchester. 

Goals from Brad Roscoe and Jesurun Uchegbulam saw the Tigers through at Ewen Fields, who turned around their fortunes after back-to-back defeats. 

After forcing a number of early saves from their former stopper Dan Atherton, the Tigers finally found the breakthrough with 12 minutes to play, with Roscoe nodding home to mark his return to Ewen Fields with a goal. 

Uchegbulam followed suit 10 minutes later, turning in from the rebound to seal his side’s place in the hat. 

“I thought it was a pretty poor game in large parts,” admitted Michael Clegg at full-time.  

“It was two teams who cancelled each other out. But our subs did really well, and we got what we deserved.” 

In the NPL West, Mossley made it two wins on the bounce with a comfortable 4-1 win at lowly Lichfield City.  

Alex Craddock’s side romped to three points in Staffordshire thanks to an inspired performance from Charlie Frost, who netted a fabulous foursome.  

The visitors led by two at the break, and though Tom Brown’s header temporarily sent alarm bells ringing at the start of the second half, the Lilywhites quickly regained control.  

Frost claimed the match ball before the turn of the hour, smashing in on the half volley before coolly rounding Carter and sliding in a classy fourth.  

Following the win, Craddock was full of praise for his free scoring number nine: 

“He was absolutely sublime today, and I’m gutted that I had to take him off. 

“His achilles was flaring up, and he’d already scored four, so we didn’t want to take any risks. 

“He could have had six or seven today himself. 

“But we desperately needed six points out of these last two, and we’ve got them, so that’s all that really matters.” 

Elsewhere, Droylsden’s four match winning streak came to an end as visitors Chadderton sailed into the next round of the Macron Cup. 

The Bloods were dumped out at the Butchers Arms thanks to first half strikes from Jordan Lazenbury and Edson Cata. 

With just nine minutes gone, Lazenbury gave Chaddy the lead in style, cutting in from the left and curling superbly into the top right corner past a helpless Jordan Latham. 

The forward was inches away from a sublime second moments later, catching Latham off his line but seeing his lob clip the underside of the crossbar. 

Dave Pace’s side hit the woodwork themselves just minutes before, with Dean Ing seeing his header cannon off the bar. 

But the away side weren’t to be denied for a second time, with Lazenbury crossing for Cata, who headed home at the back post. 

Finally, it was also an early exit for Glossop North End, who suffered their second defeat to Irlam in a matter of days. 

Jack Mitchell’s 75th minute strike saw the hosts through, as the Hillmen suffered their third loss on the bounce.