Weekend football round-up: Curzon take derby day spoils

Curzon Ashton saw off Tameside rivals Hyde United on Saturday to move up to fifth in the NPL Premier table. 

Goals from Alex Curran and Jimmy Spencer saw the Nash claim their sixth league win on the bounce, as the Tigers fell to back-to-back defeats. 

After a goalless first half, hosts Curzon found the breakthrough just seconds after the interval, with Alex Curran pouncing on a poor clearance from Will Hall to slot home the opener. 

After falling behind, Michael Clegg’s side began to grow into the contest, with Tom Walker's curling effort forcing a smart save from Aidan Dowling before Will Hall saw his header fly just over. 

Hyde’s best chance of the afternoon came with just two minutes to play, with substitute Tom Clare holding off former Tiger Joel Amado to find himself one-on-one with Dowling, who made himself big to deny the forward from close range. 

The visitors were made to pay less than 60 seconds later as two substitutes combined to put the match to bed. 

Harry Ditchfield failed to clear his lines under pressure from Chi Eze, who nipped in ahead of Eastham to square to Jimmy Spencer, who rolled in his first goal since April. 

In the same division, Ashton United squandered a 2-0 lead for the second match running to draw 2-2 with hosts Leek Town. 

The Robins were in control after early strikes from Nathan Okome and Spencer Knight, but a late fightback saw the hosts draw level in the final minute of the 90. 

Okome opened the scoring on 12 minutes, prodding home from the rebound after Al Byrne’s cross was parried into his path, before Knight ran the length of the pitch and netted a superb second. 

The teenager picked the ball up in his own half, skipping past three men before curling home an early goal of the season contender. 

Hosts Leek halved the deficit on the hour, with Jack Griffiths steering in Alex Hurst’s cross to restore hope, before the latter stabbed home the leveller to snatch two points from the Robins’ grasp with just seconds remaining. 

In the NPL West, Stalybridge Celtic ended their four-match winless streak at home to Kidsgrove Athletic. 

The hosts ran out as 3-1 winners at Bower Fold, as Liam Tongue made the perfect start to his interim reign. 

Jack Irlam got Celtic off to a flyer, turning home from close range after just four minutes, before Lewis Rawsthorn produced a moment of magic to double his side’s lead. 

The forward spotted stopper Lucas Joubert off his line and drove home from just inside the centre circle for a superb second. 

With 10 minutes to play, the home side put the win beyond any doubt, with Obua Mugalula laying off for Andy Scarisbrick who curled in a magnificent third, as Reuben Falding’s late tap-in proved to be nothing more than a consolation.  

Meanwhile, there were plenty of goals in the North West Counties League, as Droylsden hit Longridge Town for six, while Glossop edged a seven-goal thriller at Euxton Villa. 

The Bloods ran riot at the Butchers Arms, as they climbed back to the top of the Premier Division in style. 

Droylsden took the lead in fortunate circumstances after Jordan Barnett’s cross was spilled into his own net by visiting goalkeeper Dan Scott, before Nellson Van found the top corner soon after. 

The forward was cruelly denied a second moments later, poking into an empty net but not before the referee’s whistle sounded for an earlier foul on Dean Ing, with Barnett failing to convert the resulting spot kick to rub further salt in the wounds. 

But Tom Pratt was on hand to net a deserved third on the stroke of half time, before Elvis Amoakwa headed home a fourth on the other side of the interval. 

And Dave Pace’s side were far from finished, with Barnett weighing in with his customary long-range stunner shortly after Oliver Hodgson pulled one back for the visitors. 

With just a minute of the 90 remaining, substitute Declan Wildman turned in from the rebound to make the victory an even more emphatic one. 

Elsewhere, the Hillmen fended off a late fightback from the hosts to claim their first league win since early September. 

Visitors GNE took a 4-1 lead into the interval thanks to first half braces from Ethan Sutcliffe and Kaleb Parkinson, but a late flurry of goals made for a nervy end. 

Joel Booth reduced the deficit to two ahead of the hour, before adding his second with just seven minutes to play. 

But Lee Wilshaw’s men managed to withstand the home side’s pressure to avoid a late capitulation and move up to seventh in the table. 

Finally, Mossley’s superb run of results was brought to an end by high-flying hosts Stafford Rangers, who ran out as 3-0 winners at Marston Road. 

Goals from Mitch Clarke, Luca Navarro and Scott Bakkor helped the Boro land their sixth league win on the bounce, as the Lilywhites slipped to eighth.