Midweek football round-up: Five-star Curzon move up to fourth

Curzon Ashton climbed up to fourth in the National League North table on Tuesday with a 5-0 thrashing of Oxford City. 

The visitors went into half time two goals to the good after Luke Griffiths’ superb free kick flew in off the crossbar before Stefan Mols fired into the bottom corner to double his side’s lead. 

Mols then got his second, and Curzon’s third, just past the hour mark, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts turned in a cross from Luis Lacey to make it four. 

Lacey then went from provider to goalscorer, arrowing the ball into the bottom left ten minutes from time to round off an emphatic victory. 

“It was the perfect performance,” Nash boss Craig Mahon told the club’s YouTube channel following the win. 

“Five goals and a clean sheet, you can’t ask for more, I’m really proud of the lads. 

“It’s tough, most of them have taken half days in work today to travel down and I’m just pleased we’ve got something to smile about on the way home. 

“The last two games we’ve not been far off, we’ve played well and just lacked that cutting edge, but tonight I felt like we had our mojo back.”  

A superb win for Mahon’s side, which strengthens their grip on the title race. 

The Nash have three games in hand on both Chester and Scunthorpe United, knowing seven points would see them climb back to the National League North summit. 

This weekend sees them welcome strugglers Rushall Olympic to the Tameside Stadium. 

Elsewhere, Stalybridge Celtic moved into the NPL West play-off places after coming from behind to win away at Trafford. 

The match was goalless going into half time after former Celt Rio Clegg forced an early save from Charlie Monks before Joe Duckworth was denied by Sam Booth in the Trafford goal. 

Hosts Trafford then went ahead just a minute into the second half when Clegg made up for his earlier miss and fired the ball home. 

The lead would only last a matter of moments though as Joe Duckworth latched onto a ball over the top from Jordan Butterworth and lifted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to draw his side level. 

Less than five minutes later, Jack Tinning completed the turnaround for the visitors with a bullet header from a free-kick. 

It could and perhaps should have been three moments later after Jack Irlam’s effort was hacked away on the goal line, with Celtic players and fans alike seemingly believing the ball crossed the line, but these appeals were waved away by the referee.

Despite a late fightback from the hosts, Jon Macken’s side managed to hold onto their precious lead and pick up a hard-fought win on the road. 

“I’m delighted,” Macken told the club’s YouTube channel following the win. 

“We weren’t our usual selves in the first half, I thought we were a bit leggy, but we got to grips in the second half after conceding early on. 

“Our reaction to going behind was tremendous, as it has been in numerous games this season.” 

The win sees Celtic move up to fourth in the table ahead of league leaders Widnes’ visit to Bower Fold on Saturday. 

Finally Ashton United came away from Mickleover with all three points at the second time of asking, strengthening their grip on a NPL Premier Division play-off place.

The Robins were denied a win in the initial meeting between the two sides on Boxing Day after the match was abandoned due to fog, at which point Steve Cunningham's side were 3-0 up.

Ashton made the perfect start in Derbyshire, taking the lead after just seven minutes thanks to a volley from forward Darius Osei, before Jason Gilchrist turned in a cross from Dan Cowan to double their advantage just three minutes later.

Chris O'Grady then pulled one back for the hosts, firing his effort into the top corner before Osei restored the Robins' two goal advantage, completing his brace in the process.

The win sees Steve Cunningham's men retain 3rd spot in the NPL Premier Division, ahead of Saturday's clash with promotion chasing rivals Ilkeston Town at Hurst Cross.