Weekend football round-up: Curzon, Hyde & Mossley keep play-off hopes alive

Curzon Ashton briefly moved back into the National League North play-offs on Saturday with a 2-1 home win against Scarborough Athletic.

The Nash had to come from behind after substitute Alex Wilde slotted past Bobby Jones on the hour mark to put the Seadogs ahead against the run of play.  

The home side had two golden opportunities to break the deadlock themselves with Isaac Sinclair’s diving header flying over from inside the six-yard box before Marcus Poscha fired over from a virtually identical position.  

New recruit Alex Curran also came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the first half, but his driven effort would only crash against the woodwork.  

Curzon levelled the scoring just eight minutes after going behind when Jimmy Spencer’s effort found a way past Ryan Whitley via a huge deflection - a slice of luck which Craig Mahon’s side perhaps deserved.  

They completed the turnaround three minutes later, with Alex Curran leading the counterattack before slipping in Isaac Buckley-Ricketts down the right. The winger’s shot looked destined for the far corner but when his effort cannoned back off the post, Stefan Mols was there to tap in the rebound.  

The away side came close to equalising with ten minutes to play, but a combination of Nash goalkeeper Bobby Jones and the post denied Stephen Walker and ensured his side would be going home empty-handed.  

Following the win Curzon boss Craig Mahon told the Reporter:  

“I’m really happy with the result.  

“They’re a great team with a great manager, and to go one-nil down and still be able to win is massive for us.  

“We showed so much character and determination today and I knew as soon as we got that first goal there was no stopping us.”  

The win saw Mahon’s side temporarily move up to 7th place in the National League North ahead of a crucial few weeks in the race for the play-offs, although Kidderminster Harriers pushed them back down to 8th with a thumping 6-0 win at Farsley Celtic on Sunday. 

In the Northern Premier League, Hyde United kept their hopes of a play-offs berth alive with a 1-0 win over Lancaster City at Ewen Fields. 

The Tigers had the better of a lively first half, with visiting goalkeeper Aidan Dowling – who is from Hyde – at full stretch to keep out goal-bound efforts from Ben Kershaw and Frankie Sinfield. 

However, there was nothing he could do to stop a Jordan Scanlon scorcher on 20 minutes. Quick thinking from Callum Spooner and Kershaw created a gap in the Lancaster backline, which Scanlon exploited to launch an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 15 yards. 

Hyde stopper Callum Hiddleston almost came a cropper when heading away a Lancaster through ball outside his box. His clearance dropped to Charlie Bailey, but he trickled his shot wide with the keeper stranded. 

Visiting full-back Dylan Thompson picked up a booking just before the break for dragging Scanlon to the deck. He repeated the offence early in the second half for impeding a rampaging Harry Ditchfield, sending Chris Willcock’s side down to ten men. 

The sending off sparked the Dolly Blues into life, and although they bossed possession as they game ticked on, it was Hyde’s Ayo Quadri who came closest to scoring, Dowling tipping his dipping effort onto the bar. 

“You could see the nerves at the end, but I thought first half we were excellent,” said Tigers boss, Nick Spooner. 

“We had three of four good chances and their keeper’s pulled off two good saves, but I’m happy with the three points. 

He conceded his side were “exhausted” after their 2-0 win at Hebburn Town in midweek, though: “There’s not many more legs in the league than in that midfield, and they dominated on Tuesday night, but you could see the tiredness and we lacked a bit of energy in the second half.” 

It was a difficult afternoon for Ashton United who lost 1-0 at fellow Top 5 side Guiseley and saw centre-half Sam Baird hobble off with a first half injury. 

The Lions scored the decisive goal on the half-hour, Jake Lawlor converting an Adriano Moke cross moments after Dan Cowan replaced Baird at the heart of the Ashton defence. 

In a game of few chances and even less quality, Guiseley managed to keep the Robins at bay, with even the reintroduction of Alex Byrne from the bench unable to spark Steve Cunningham’s side into life. 

"I’m bitterly disappointed,” a crestfallen Cunningham said post-match. “They were the best of two worst teams today. I thought they were poor, but I thought we were even worse. 

“It wasn’t a good game for the neutral – I think I spent more time talking to my daughter on the sideline. I couldn’t watch it. 

“I can only apologise to our fans who have made a great effort to come. You could see that both teams were cagey, nobody wanted to lose, but we’ve been the worse of the two teams today.” 

Mossley recovered from last week’s defeat against Vauxhall Motor’s with an impressive win at Nantwich Town. 

Bailey Marsden – celebrating his 100th Lilywhites appearance – played a hand in the opener. Ben Garratt in the Nantwich goal palmed out Marden’s effort into the path of Michael Brewster, who walloped home from close range in the 7th minute. 

Mossley’s best play came through the centurion as he pulled the strings in attack and midfield, with him, Teddy Lavelle and Gee Baltazar all coming close to doubling the lead as the first half progressed. 

Home captain Troy Bourne received his marching orders for a wild challenge on Adam Sherratt, but despite the man disadvantage, it was Nantwich who scored next via former two-time Lilywhites Player of the Year, Tom Pratt. 

Parity was short-lived, however, as Mason Fawns powered into the box straight from kick-off and placing a perfect cross onto the head of Baltazar who made a 2-1. 

Mossley kept their foot on the gas with Marsden, Eric Yahaya and Obua Mugalula all testing Garratt but not putting the game to bed, not that it concerned a delighted Lilywhites manager, David Fish. 

“We had two sides today who tried to get it down and play. It was a good game, and I’m really pleased to get the result here as it’s a tough place to come. 

“At times I’ve questioned our character this season. When we go behind we crumble, but a lot of our wins have been to nil, and to respond the way we did was good.  

“Then I thought we showed a good bit of game management – against ten men, we’re 2-1 up, there’s no need to rush. You need to take the sting out of it at times. 

“We probably could have gone on and scored another goal...but I’m very pleased with the reaction.” 

It was an eventful weekend in the North West Counties (NWCFL) where the annual Groundhop visited all three of our local grounds. 

In the Premier Division, Glossop North End went down to a 2-0 home reversal against a rampant West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday evening. 

It was better news earlier in the day for New Mills. First half goals from Ash Woods and Chris Pauley were enough to see the Millers over the line against Cheadle Heath Nomads. 

Droylsden rounded off the weekend on Sunday afternoon in front of almost 1,200 spectators, edging a top-of-the-table clash against Darwen 3-2. 

Fuad Kasali, George Kattah and Nellson Van were the Bloods’ goal scorers, although the Lancastrian visitors – who have former Stalybridge and Hyde winger Connor Hughes among their ranks – were left fuming after a controversial disallowed goal from a second half corner.