Weekend football round-up: Nash humiliated as Telford run riot

Saturday saw Curzon Ashton suffer their heaviest league defeat in over 30 years, as visitors AFC Telford United ran out as 8-0 winners at the Tameside Stadium. 

Four goals in both halves saw The Nash mirror their last 8-0 drubbing, which came away at Bamber Bridge back in 1994. 

A ruthless opening 28 minutes saw the away side storm into a 4-0 lead, with Matthew Stenson nodding home the opener early on before The Bucks tripled their advantage in a flash. 

Dylan Allen-Hadley swept home a second on 16 minutes before Khanya Leshabela added insult to injury, smashing in a third and forcing Callum Hawkins to pick the ball out of his net for the second time in 13 seconds. 

Leshabela sealed his brace soon after, as did Stenson, who glanced in Telford’s fifth just after the interval, before Jamie Meddow turned home a sixth on the hour. 

The away side were far from finished though, with Ola Lawal heading in a seventh 10 minutes from time, before Jimmy Armson’s deflected effort found its way in, capping off one of Curzon’s darkest days in recent memory. 

“There’s no hiding from a performance like that,” said a dejected Mark Bradshaw following the defeat. 

“It’s incredibly disappointing, and we’re all extremely upset, angry, frustrated – all the words that you would use when you’ve been demolished. 

“It’s the worst performance I’ve seen in 20 years of being involved with the club.” 

Elsewhere, Droylsden are just three wins away from a trip to Wembley, after they saw off United Counties side Sherwood Colliery to progress to the last 16 of the FA Vase. 

The Bloods took an early lead through an own goal before skipper Liam Moran doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, heading home Caelan Kilheeney’s corner. 

William Norcross then gave the visitors a lifeline, halving the deficit on the hour, but Dave Pace’s side managed to cling onto their slender advantage and seal their place in the next round. 

Their reward is a trip to Midland Football League side Bilston Town next month.

In the NPL West, Andy Scarisbrick’s 95th minute strike saw Stalybridge Celtic steal the points against Kidsgrove Athletic. 

A trademark Liam Tongue longshot opened the scoring for the hosts, before Jay Ford turned home via a deflection to send the sides in level. 

Ruben Jerome then poked Celtic back in front just three minutes after the break, before Oliver Jepson restored parity once again 14 minutes from time. 

The away side were then reduced to ten three minutes from the end, and Jon Macken’s side took full advantage, with Scarisbrick rising the highest to head home the winner deep into added time. 

“I’m delighted with the three points,” said Macken following the victory. 

“It was a really tough afternoon, I think we looked a little bit fatigued today. 

“But you’re going to get games like this at times, and to score like that really late on and get the win is big for us.” 

In the same division, Mossley came from behind to see off Atherton Collieries by the same scoreline. 

The Lilywhites found themselves trailing by two at the break thanks to goals from Kielen Adams and Niall Battersby, but a big second half performance saw the visitors take the spoils at Alder Street. 

Jack Grundy’s header kicked off the fightback just a minute after the break before a double from former Colls man Connor Hughes completed the turnaround. 

The forward turned in the leveller on the hour mark, before slotting home the winner with just a minute of the 90 to play. 

“A lot was said at half time,” admitted Mossley boss Alex Craddock following the win. 

“Changes were made, and I’m not one for making rash changes, but it was needed. 

“We really lost our way in the last 20 minutes of the half, but then everything fell into place in the second, which was pleasing to see.” 

In the NPL Premier, it was an afternoon to forget for Hyde United, who slipped back into the relegation zone after a 4-0 thrashing at Bamber Bridge. 

The Tigers were reduced to 10 in the second half after Kieran Lloyd was given his marching orders, but the damage was done well before then. 

Former Hyde forward Ewan Bange gave Brig a half time lead, before Olly Malloy capitalised on an error from debutant goalkeeper Mackenzie Chapman to tap home a second. 

Bange then converted from the spot to make it three, before Jack Baxter squeezed in from the angle to compound the visitors’ misery and extend their winless run to 10 matches. 

“I’ve not seen a worse performance in the last seven years I’ve been involved at this club,” said a furious Martin Coyne at full-time. 

“I said to the lads before the game, you don’t need an abundance of skill or knowledge, what you need to do is show a bit of passion, and play for the badge that’s on your chest. 

“I didn’t see that today, at all. I saw 16 players that have thrown us under a bus. 

“We’ve just had an absolute drill down in the dressing room, and I said to the lads, you got me the job, and you’re gonna get me the sack.” 

Their Premier Division counterparts, Ashton United, also suffered defeat on the road, and likewise ended their clash with Hebburn Town a man light. 

After a spirited performance in the North East, the Robins were stunned by a sucker punch in second half stoppage time. 

Steve Cunningham’s side thought they’d made the perfect start when James Hardy had the ball in the net after just 60 seconds, only for their celebrations to be cut short by the linesman’s flag. 

This moment of misfortune was a sign of things to come, with Sean Newton seeing red on the stroke of half time for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, before a controversial 94th minute penalty was rifled home by Gary Martin. 

“It’s heartbreak for my players, cause I think we’ve been done,” said a distraught Cunningham after the final whistle. 

“It’s a tough job being an official, but today, my players have been unbelievable, and we didn’t deserve to lose the game. 

“It’s going to sound like sour grapes, and I don’t care if it does, but the game hasn’t been won by a moment of magic, it’s been won by a decision. 

“It’s not a penalty, and when he sees it back, he’ll hold his hands up.” 

Finally, in the NWCFL Premier, Glossop North End suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Ramsbottom United. 

The sides went into the break level after Luke Sephton cancelled out Ollie Parker’s early opener, but Matthew Dudley turned in the eventual winner just seven minutes into the second half. 

“In open play we created a lot today, but unfortunately that little bit of end product just wasn’t there,” admitted GNE boss Lee Wilshaw following the defeat. 

“At half-time, the message was to be resilient and keep the door shut in the first 10 minutes, but unfortunately we didn’t do that.”