Bank Holiday football round-up: Derby ends in stalemate, Robins seal play-off place

The final Tameside derby of the season between Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic ended all square on Bank Holiday Monday, with Jack Irlam’s late penalty rescuing a point for the visitors. 

Eric Yahaya put the Lilywhites ahead on 56 minutes with a bullet header, and when Sean Kgwakgwa took the ball round Charlie Monks and found the empty net ten minutes later, David Fish looked certain to pick up a victory in his final match at Seel Park. 

Visitors Stalybridge had other ideas though, with substitute Courtney Meppen-Walters pulling one back four minutes from time with a superb free-kick which nestled into the top right corner. 

Moments later, the referee pointed to the spot after Joe Duckworth went to ground inside the Mossley box, a decision which David Fish labelled as ‘atrocious’. 

Up stepped Jack Irlam, to send Fin Madigan the wrong way and level the scoring from 12 yards. 

Kgwakgwa was then inches away from winning it in style deep into added time with an audacious overhead kick, but the midfielder was denied by a superb fingertip save from Charlie Monks. 

Following the draw, Mossley boss David Fish was less than pleased with the performance of the officials: 

“Obviously, I’m disappointed, but I couldn’t have asked for more from the players today, they did everything we asked of them,” Fish told The Reporter at full-time. 

“They showed great work rate and quality, and the only reason we didn’t come away with three points is because of two bad decisions from the referee. 

“Often you analyse games and say there are things you could’ve done better, but realistically, we didn’t win the game today because of one man, and he was wearing black.” 

As for Stalybridge Celtic, their failure to win, paired with Chasetown’s 6-0 thrashing of Hanley Town, means their hopes of sneaking into the NPL West play-offs are now officially over. 

“We’re all disappointed,” Stalybridge boss Jon Macken told The Reporter following the draw. 

“We’ve given it everything we possibly could to finish in the play-offs, unfortunately it wasn’t enough, but I think overall we’ve got to look at it as a fairly positive season. 

“We can all look back and be disappointed with how we’ve dropped points in certain games but we’re still in a cup final and we’re going to finish higher than we did last season, so we have to see that as a positive.” 

Elsewhere Ashton United confirmed their spot in the NPL Premier Division play-offs with a 2-0 win at home to Mickleover. 

After a goalless first half, the Robins were handed a huge boost early in the second when Gabriel Adebambo was shown two yellow cards in the space of two minutes, reducing the visitors to ten men. 

Ten minutes later, Steve Cunningham’s side took full advantage, with Jason Gilchrist turning in a cross from Al Byrne to put his side ahead. 

Darius Osei then sealed the win eight minutes from time, poking home from close range after a scramble inside the penalty area to send Ashton into the play-off semi-finals. 

The Robins’ most likely opponents in the semi’s would be 2nd placed Worksop, however, if results go their way, Cunningham’s side could face 3rd placed Guiseley, both of which would be away from home.  

Their Ashton counterparts Curzon Ashton kept their play-off hopes alive going into the final match of the season with a 3-0 thrashing of Farsley Celtic. 

A first half brace from the unlikely source of Adam Barton put the Nash in control, before he turned provider, squaring the ball to Alex Curran who made it three just moments after the break. 

The win sees Craig Mahon’s side sit in 8th place in the National League North, just outside the play-off places on goals scored. 

Should the Nash better Hereford’s result on the final day, they will take the final play-off place. 

If other results go their way, Curzon could also climb into the play-offs at the expense of both Chorley and King’s Lynn Town. 

Mahon’s side host Leamington this Saturday in the final match of the regular season. 

Finally, in the NPL Premier Division, Hyde United were unable build on Saturday’s win at Basford United, instead slipping to a 2-0 defeat at home to Warrington Rylands. 

Goals from Alex Kiwomya and Murray Campbell condemned the Tigers to their third defeat in four matches.