Weekend football round-up: Curzon find elusive league win

Curzon Ashton picked up their first league win of 2026 on Saturday, coming from behind to see off strugglers Hereford at the Tameside Stadium. 

Jimmy Spencer’s second half strike proved to be decisive as The Nash kept their National League North play-off hopes hanging by a thread. 

The visitors stormed into a shock lead inside 10 minutes, with Lewis Hudson latching onto a long ball over the top before poking round the onrushing Callum Hawkins and rolling into the empty net. 

But the hosts hit back with an instant response as Ben Darby drilled home from distance to restore the parity just three minutes later.  

Mark Bradshaw’s side then completed the turnaround on the hour mark when Joel Amado’s half volley found the back of the net via the hip of Curzon’s skipper Spencer. 

The home side then had to rely on the heroics of their goalkeeper, who preserved the points with a superb flying save to deny Aaron Skinner late on, whose volley looked destined for the top left corner. 

“It’s been laying heavy on me since the last home game,” revealed a relieved Bradshaw following the win. 

“Everybody was desperate today to show that we can put a performance in at home, and get a result at home, so that’s a real positive. 

“Hereford threw everything at us, but second half we defended with our lives. 

“It’s a massive result for us, and for a group of lads that have given everything today – I can’t ask for any more.” 

Elsewhere, their Ashton counterparts Ashton United were on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller, with hosts Lancaster City taking the spoils at the Giant Axe. 

Sam Bailey’s spot kick was enough to see The Dolly Blues come away with all three points on an action-packed afternoon. 

The home side went ahead after just nine minutes when Dom Lawson nodded in Charlie Bailey’s cross, only for Jason Gilchrist to head the visitors level 17 minutes later. 

Nic Evangelinos then put Lancaster back in front in style, taking the ball around Cooper and slotting in a second, but The Robins would not lie down, and drew level once again through the head of Gilchrist just before the break. 

The hosts would then have the chance to restore their advantage on the hour thanks to a cynical pullback from Al Byrne, which allowed Blues’ skipper Bailey to drive in the eventual winner from 12 yards. 

“We didn’t play well at all today,” admitted a disappointed Steve Cunningham following the defeat. 

“We got ourselves back in the game after conceding two bad goals and at half time you’re thinking, let’s come out and give it a real good go, but unfortunately, we just didn’t do that. 

“We’ve given a penalty away again, that’s one at Hebburn and one here, and that one moment has just changed the game, it’s disappointing.” 

In the same division, Michael Clegg kicked off his Hyde United reign with a goalless draw against former club Warrington Rylands. 

The Tigers had chances to win it, with Max Harrop hitting the post late on before Matty Fearnley’s half-volley whistled just past the post, but had to settle for a point at Ewen Fields. 

The afternoon marked the return of Hyde skipper Jack Redshaw, who made his first appearance in over two months after a long spell sidelined with injury. 

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get three points,” said the newly appointed Tigers boss following the stalemate. 

“We limited a really good team to very little, our keeper’s only had one save to make. 

“Listen a point’s a point, and the clean sheet is massive for us, but we’d have liked to have taken all three.” 

In the NPL West, Mossley’s trip to basement club Trafford ended in similar fashion, as The Lilywhites recorded their second 0-0 draw in as many matches. 

Alex Craddock’s side played out the final 20 minutes with 10 men after Sean Kgwakgwa was shown a red card just minutes after entering the pitch, but managed to hold on and pick up their 10th clean sheet of the campaign. 

“I thought it was different to last week, I’m more disappointed with a point this week,” said Craddock following the draw. 

“We knew we had to nullify Trafford, and we did that really well, but the difficult thing is that we’ve come away from the game and not had a shot on target. 

“But I’m not entirely sure they’ve had one either, which probably just sums the game up.” 

Elsewhere, it was honours even at Bower Fold as visitors Shifnal Town rescued a point late on against Stalybridge Celtic. 

A header from Rasaq Alamu rounded off a topsy-turvy encounter, which saw the home side slip out of the play-off spots. 

The visitors drew first blood initially, with Kevin Monteiro steering in the opener on seven minutes before Celtic hit back 25 minutes later through the unlikely source of Mike Koral.  

A bizarre own goal then saw Jon Macken’s side take control just past the hour, before Dontai Gabbidon came inches away from a third soon after. 

The departing winger was agonisingly close to signing off his loan spell in style, but saw his effort cannon back out off the upright.  

The away side then took full advantage of the let off, with Alamu heading home the fourth and final goal of the afternoon 10 minutes from time to ensure the points were shared. 

The draw sees Celtic sit a point outside the play-off spots, with a trip to Congleton to come this weekend. 

In the NWCFL First Division North, Droylsden lost ground on their promotion chasing rivals as they were thrashed 4-1 at MSB Woolton. 

Liam Moran’s second half header did little to write the wrongs of what preceded, with The Bloods finding themselves 4-0 down after just 50 minutes thanks to a hat trick from Daniel Ventre. 

A nightmare start saw the visitors trailing after just three minutes, and when Caelan Kilheeney failed to level from the spot 20 minutes later, this only added insult to injury. 

Droylsden’s misery was then compounded on the stroke of half-time when Ventre added a second, before Lucas Wilson made it three just a minute after the interval. 

Less than four minutes later, the hosts had the game wrapped up, as Ventre completed his hat-trick to round off a miserable day out for Dave Pace’s side. 

Finally, in the NWCFL Premier, Glossop North End left it late to steal a point at AFC Liverpool, thanks to Junior Smith’s 87th minute equaliser. 

A spirited performance from The Hillmen saw them come from two goals down in Merseyside to ensure the points were shared. 

Elliot Taylor got the ball rolling for the hosts after just two minutes, before adding a second from the spot 12 minutes later. 

Visitors GNE were then handed a lifeline on the half-hour mark when Ethan Sutcliffe rifled in to halve the deficit before Smith smashed in at the back post to restore parity three minutes from time. 

“It was a good reaction after a really poor start. 

“We needed to make sure that we did the basics really well, and unfortunately, we didn’t do that early doors. 

“But up until half-time, we steadied the ship, and to go in with only a one-goal deficit was important.”