Weekend football round-up: Robins bow out

Ashton United - the only remaining Tameside representative in this year's FA Cup - bowed out of the competition over the weekend after a narrow defeat at National League North side Buxton. 

Devlan Moses’ second half strike meant there was to be no fairytale return for Steve Cunningham, as the 10-man hosts edged through. 

The visitors were full of hope at the break, having kept the hosts at bay, and Josh Shaw’s dismissal on the stroke of half time only added to this. 

But within a minute of the restart, this optimism was snatched away as Moses drove home from distance to open the scoring. 

The Robins fought back valiantly, with former Bucks man Kurt Willoughby clipping the post with an audacious free-kick, but were unable to avoid a second qualifying round exit. 

Elsewhere, in the NWCFL Premier, Droylsden retained their grip on top spot with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Prestwich Heys. 

Photo: Derek Lloyd / Bloods Pics

Goals from Nellson Van and Jordan Barnett saw the Bloods claim their seventh win of the campaign, and keep the one-point buffer between themselves and chasers Nelson. 

Dave Pace’s side made the perfect start at the Butchers Arms, finding themselves two goals to the good inside nine minutes. 

Van turned in Evanilson Da Silva’s cross to open the scoring before Barnett added a second with what was either a stroke of genius or a slice of luck. 

The midfielder – who has made a habit of scoring from distance of late – repeated the feat once again, as his wide free kick looped over the unsuspecting goalkeeper and flew all the way in.  

But his afternoon took a sour turn on the hour mark as he was dismissed following a kick out on visiting midfielder Dre Taylor. 

Despite being reduced to ten, it was the home side who struck next, with David Braddock lobbing his own goalkeeper with a backheel any forward would be proud of, capping off a dismal display from the visitors. 

In the NPL West, Stalybridge Celtic were denied a win at Chasetown in dramatic circumstances, with the hosts netting a last-gasp equaliser. 

Photo: Connor Pelech / @pelechmedia

After coming from behind to lead 2-1, Jon Macken’s side looked to be returning to winning ways, but a late strike from Matt Funge ensured the points were shared in Staffordshire. 

The Chase drew first blood after just three minutes, with Kyle Moseley sweeping home on the turn before Ruben Jerome turned in from the rebound after Liam Tongue's initial effort was saved. 

The visitors started the second half with a bang, with Lewis Rawsthorn lashing home on the volley to complete the turnaround just seconds after the interval. 

But the home side had the final say, as Funge showed superb improvisation to flick the ball beyond the helpless Charlie Monks with only five minutes to play. 

“To concede the way we did, it’s disappointing. It does feel like two points lost,” admitted Macken at full-time. 

“But we’ve got to build on things, and coming away here and getting a point is a starting point.  

“I think the performance was good today, we did really well, so we’ve got to try and take the positives from it.” 

Meanwhile, in the same division, having ended their barren spell a week earlier, Mossley were brought back down to earth with a home defeat to Runcorn Linnets. 

A late strike from veteran midfielder Nick Rushton proved the difference on a drab afternoon at Seel Park. 

The visitors were a whisker away from opening the scoring early on, with Elliott Morris forcing a fine save from Fin Madigan, before the stopper got down equally well to deny the same man from the spot soon after. 

Alex Craddock’s side then came close to an opener of their own, with Callum Stringer’s long-range drive whistling just past the upright. 

But the Linnets found a deserved winner five minutes from time, with the unmarked Rushton steering home from the edge of the area. 

“We deserved nothing out of the game,” Craddock told the Reporter after the final whistle. 

“We’ve not had a shot on target for the first time this season, and I think that’s as bad as we’ve been this calendar year. 

“There was no creativity, we were outrun, outworked - everything that we want to be, we weren’t. 

“Today we just fully got what we deserved.” 

Finally, Glossop North End lost further ground in the NWCFL Premier title race after a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Irlam. 

A brace from Dan Dolling saw league leaders Droylsden open up a six-point gap on the Hillmen, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats. 

“It was probably a hangover from Tuesday,” revealed GNE boss Lee Wilshaw following the loss. 

“We didn't pick ourselves up, and we were probably feeling sorry for ourselves. 

“If you don’t compete and don’t do the basics really well, you end up giving chances away, and that happened too often. 

“The transitions killed us. But ultimately, they had a team full of fighters today and unfortunately, we didn’t.”