Weekend football round-up: Curzon close in on NLN pinnacle

Curzon Ashon boss Craig Mahon declared himself “really happy” as his side edged closer to National League North table-toppers, Scunthorpe United, after a tight 1-0 win at Buxton.

Luke Griffiths’ first half goal was the difference at Silverlands as the Nash moved to within a point of the summit. 

However, the game threatened to boil over in the closing minutes when Buxton’s Finn Delap saw red for a terrible challenge on Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, which the winger somehow came away from relatively unscathed. 

The tackle sparked trouble on the touchline, with the home side’s manager John McGrath also seeing red, while a trio of Curzon players were booked. 

“It’s a tough place to come, but we probably weren’t at our best. Sometimes you’re not going to play great or have all the possession; Buxton are a well-drilled team, they caused us problems, but we had that one bit of quality from Luke Griffiths and we go away with the three points. 

“We backed each other, we looked after each other on the field, and we probably just edged it.” 

It was a good day, too, for their neighbours Ashton United in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy. 

Goals from James Hardy and Trevon Bryan put the Robins two-up inside the opening ten minutes at Trafford, who are led by former FC United manager Karl Marginson. 

Hardy weighed in with a second strike to make it 3-0 ten minutes into the second half, and although old stager Jerome Wright pulled one back for the home side, Jason Gilchrist came off the bench to put the game beyond doubt at 4-1 moments later. 

Kanye Nisbett grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time for Trafford, but Steve Cunningham’s side still had enough in the tank for Jak McCourt to net his first goal for the club to make it 5-2. 

Hyde United were also on their travels in the Trophy, but extended their winless run to seven games in losing 1-0 at Congleton Town. 

An injury hit Tigers, who were missing Joel Amado, Harry Bunn and long-term casualty Will Hall, were comfortable in the opening 45 minutes, but the home side were much improved after the break. 

Ethan Hartshorn scored the decisive goal on 78 minutes after finding space in the Hyde box and firing past Callum Hiddleston. 

“Everything we did well in the first half, we didn’t bother doing in the second half,” said a crestfallen Hyde boss Nick Spooner. “They’re not listening. They’re not taking instructions. Maybe they’re fed up of my voice. There’s got to be changes. 

“We go back to the Macc game [a 1-1 draw on August bank holiday] and it was great. You can predict us now. The amount of goals we’re letting in after 75 minutes is embarrassing. 

“Do we need some experience? I think we do. I think we now need to change my philosophy with the young kids. I’ve got to look at myself and it’s time to bring some new bodies in and [move] some bodies out. 

“Gav’s [Hyde coach Gavin McCann] just made a comment saying that it’s probably the lowest he’s felt in football today, and I’m not far behind him. If the board want me to go, I’ll walk. We’ve just got to get that form back.” 

It was a tough afternoon for our teams in the Northern Premier League West, too, with both Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic succumbing to narrow away defeats. 

A goal in each half gave Newcastle Town the three points against Stalybridge, who had three chances to equalise in stoppage time, with Joe Slinn dramatically tipping Aaron Chalmers’ header onto the woodwork to secure a 2-1 win. 

In the positive column, though, Joe Duckworth scored his first goal for James Kinsey’s side since joining from Witton Albion. 

Mossley dropped into the bottom four with a last-gasp 1-0 loss at Atherton Collieries, who picked up their first win of the campaign in the process. 

“We deserved nothing from it,” said Lilywhites manager David Fish. “They scored with what was probably their fifth free header from a corner, which came from a terrible defensive clearance, and that summed up the day. 

“Colls were good value for the win today. We were found wanting in every department. The basics of every position just weren’t done. We need to have a long, hard look at where we are, and if we’ve not got the answers, we might have to sign different people. 

“I’m asking a centre-half to head the ball properly - it should be a given.” 

It was better news for Glossop North End as they returned to winning ways with a comprehensive demolition of Squires Gate in the North West Counties (NWCFL) Premier Division. 

Richard Brodie’s side raced into a 3-0 lead, with goals inside the first 30 minutes from Tom Lawless, Dylan McMahon and Keaton Mulvey. 

James Hughes replied for the visitors before half-time, but the Hillmen again came out the stronger in the second half, with Mulvey grabbing a second and substitute Elijah Fisher capping a 5-1 win in injury time. 

After three defeats in four games, New Mills squeaked past Shawbury United to claim a 1-0 win on the road in the NWCFL Division One South.  

A first half Will Shawcross penalty was enough to seal the three points for Chris Baguley’s team, who maintained their spot in the play-offs. 

In the First Division North, Droylsden are clinging onto a Top 5 berth despite losing 2-0 at Maghull. 

Midweek fixtures (all Tuesday 7:45 kick-offs unless stated): 

Bury v Glossop North End 
Droylsden v AFC Blackpool 
FC United of Manchester v Curzon Ashton 
New Mills v South Normanton Athletic 
Trafford v Mossley 
Widnes v Stalybridge Celtic (Weds, 7:45pm)