Weekend football round-up: Tigers make it through

Hyde United made it through to the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round on Saturday after a 1-0 win at home to 10-man Matlock Town. 

The Tigers had chances to go ahead in the first half but were unable to break the deadlock, with Ben Kershaw’s scissor kick cannoning back out off the post before Charlie Frost’s close range effort was turned behind by Jake Oram. 

Hyde were then handed a boost just before the break as the visitors were reduced to ten when Tom Elliot was shown a straight red card for a kicking out at defender Will Hall. 

Martin Coyne’s side then found the breakthrough on the hour mark when Hall’s cross-field pass was plucked out of the air by Jack Redshaw, who rounded the onrushing goalkeeper and rolled into the empty net. 

Despite a couple of late attacks from the away side, hosts Hyde managed to see the game out with a minimum of fuss and seal their place in the next round. 

“I thought it [the performance] was excellent,” interim boss Martin Coyne told the Reporter following the win. 

“Everything we worked on in training happened out on pitch. 

“One to 11 the lads executed every bit of the game plan we asked for.”

Hyde's reward is a trip to National League side Tamworth in the next round.

Elsewhere, Ashton United left it late to force a replay at NPL West side Runcorn Linnets. 

The hosts went ahead on the stroke of half-time after Ryan Brooke turned in Declan McLoughlin’s scuffed effort, but Steve Cunningham’s side would draw level deep into second half stoppage time. 

After a scramble inside the penalty area, the ball fell kindly to Robins forward Jason Gilchrist, who fired home on the turn to keep his side in the competition. 

“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” said a satisfied Steve Cunningham following the draw. 

“A draw is probably a fair result especially with the number of chances we had in the second half. 

“Our lads showed real character, and a real doggedness which we’ve shown in abundance this season, so I think we deserve a second bite of the cherry.”   

The sides will meet again in Tuesday’s replay at Hurst Cross. 

Should the Robins progress, they will host National League North side Buxton in the next round.

Their Ashton counterparts, Curzon Ashton, failed to make the Fourth Qualifying Round for the first time since 2020 after a 5-1 thumping at Chester. 

The Nash found themselves trailing by two at the break after Offrande Zanzala nodded the hosts ahead from close range before Jack Stobbs turned into the back of his own net. 

Second half strikes from Dylan Mottley-Henry, Pat Jones, and Connor Woods then put the Seals five up, before Jimmy Spencer’s 88th minute volley provided a small consolation for the travelling supporters. 

“It's really disappointing,” said a downbeat Mark Bradshaw following the defeat. 

“We set up to match them and go man for man, but on the day, we didn’t have a player who did more than what they did. 

“It became frustrating, a few heads went down, and rather than stepping up and showing leadership, a few of the players went the other way today.” 

Meanwhile, Droylsden’s Macron Cup campaign ended at the First Round stage on Friday after a narrow defeat to nearby Maine Road. 

Ben Mooney’s looping header put the visitors ahead on 15 minutes before a mix up between Harry Shipton and goalkeeper Jordan Latham presented Jean-Jacques Kirongozi with an open goal to tap the ball into 10 minutes into the second half. 

Despite Emmanuel Omorogbe pulling one back 12 minutes from time, the Bloods were unable to mount a comeback. 

In the NPL West, Mossley were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller at Witton Albion. 

Geffry Ebhote opened the scoring for the hosts after just six minutes before Sean Kgwakgwa’s strike meant the sides would go into the break level. 

Former Stalybridge Celtic forward Max Harrop then put the home side back ahead midway through the second half before Gee Baltazar equalised with 14 minutes to go. 

The parity would only last a matter of minutes though as Altrincham loanee Remi Raymond opened his Albion account and condemned the Lilywhites to defeat. 

Finally, Glossop North End were unable to make it back-to-back wins at Cheadle Town, with the hosts inflicting revenge on the Hillmen and ending their Macron Cup campaign. 

Former Droylsden forward Sheriff Njie got himself on the scoresheet either side of Dylan Fitzgerald’s equaliser, before Jack Hopkins drew GNE level on the stroke of half-time. 

But Edson Cata’s 48th minute strike was enough to see Jake Davies’ side progress. 

“It’s really disappointing because I didn’t think they won the game, I thought we lost the game," said a frustrated Richard Brodie at full-time.

“I think we caused them more problems than they caused us, and it’s fine margins again.”