Weekend football round-up: Curzon through in FA Cup, but Hyde & Mossley out

Hyde United fell to a controversial 2-1 defeat at Southport in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on Saturday, with Joel Amado conceding a penalty after being shoved in the back and falling onto the ball.

However, more concerning was an injury to Harry Ditchfield that left the full-back needing treatment for 20 minutes on the touchline. 

He was clattered into as the last action of the first half, landing awkwardly on his neck, with the referee incurring Hyde boss Nick Spooner’s wrath. 

“He just said he made a mistake, and he blew for half-time. Well, a foul’s a foul, it doesn’t matter if he’s blown for half-time or not. But to not go and check the kid, [when] his mistake has made it happen – all we can wish for now is that he’s okay.” 

A cheeky back-heeled volley from Marcus Carver gave Southport a 19th minute lead in a low-tempo first half, but perhaps spurred on by the injury to Ditchfield, the Tigers were much improved in the second period. 

Although Jack Redshaw was shackled for much of the game by former Stockport County man Sam Minihan, 17-year-old Joe Ashton excelled on his debut at left-back for Hyde. The on-loan Burnley youngster curled a devilish ball into the Southport six-yard box, which Connor Heath somehow couldn’t convert against his old club. 

For all of Hyde’s pressure, it was Southport who made it 2-0 on 81 minutes, when Amado was adjudged to have handled in the area after being pushed to the deck, a decision Spooner called “laughable”. 

Substitute Danny Lloyd converted the penalty with help from the post. 

The Tigers kept going, though, and were rewarded when Jordan Scanlon scorched an inch perfect shot from 20 yards to throw the visitors a lifeline, but they couldn’t muster an equaliser. 

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Mossley also lost to National League North opposition in Chorley. 

The Lilywhites gave as good as good as they got for the first 75 minutes, with both keepers called into action to keep the scores level, while the livewire Obua Mugalula was a constant thorn in Chorley’s side. 

George Horbury broke Mossley hearts 15 minutes from time with a shot into the top corner, a lead doubled by former Ashton United man Warren Clarke in the final minute of regular time. 

David Fish’s side piled forward, but Tom Carr made the most of the space at the back to make it a flattering 3-0 for the visitors. 

Curzon Ashton are the only Tameside team through to the 3rd Qualifying Round after a comfortable win against North West Counties (NWCFL) side, Barnoldswick Town. 

Isaac Buckley-Ricketts forced a Barlick own goal after 3 minutes to settle any Nash nerves. Stefan Mols made it 2-0 on 14 minutes, and despite the one-way traffic looming on the visitors’ goal, that’s the way it stayed until half-time. 

Curzon found their shooting boots after the break, with Buckley-Ricketts, Mols, Mike Afuye and a first Nash goal for ex-Mossley man Ben Darby making it 6-0. 

Ashton United got back to winning ways in the Northern Premier League (NPL), winning 2-1 at Whitby Town. 

Darius Osei opened the scoring for the Robins in the first minute, an advantage that Whitby scrubbed out two minutes later thanks to a Stephen Walker penalty. 

However, Osei settled the tie with a precision header in the 58th minute for his fifth goal of the campaign to move Steve Cunningham’s team back into 4th place. 

In the NPL West, Stalybridge Celtic made it two wins in a week to push themselves up into 3rd. 

Although top-of-the-table Bootle cancelled out Matty Bryan’s first half goal, Sean Tse won the game with his first Bridge goal on 75 minutes. 

“We just kept the momentum. We knew it was going to be a tough game today,” the Hong Kong international told the club’s YouTube channel. “We’ve got a full week of training now on Tuesday and Thursday, which is good, and we can go into next Saturday [against Wythenshawe] with some confidence.” 

Glossop North End had a Friday night to remember in the NWCFL when the in-form Lewis Reilly netted twice to help the Hillmen to a 3-0 win at Prestwich Heys. 

“I think that’s the best performance we’ve put in since I’ve been here,” the scouse marksman, who now has 8 goals from 12 appearances, said. “We got the ball down, we played, and we finished it off comfortably.” 

There was a rare defeat for Glossop’s neighbours New Mills in the NWCFL Division One South. 

The Millers played with 10 men for 70 minutes against Abbey Hulton United after Ben McNamara picked up two early yellow cards, but despite battling hard, they succumbed to second half Kieran Brown penalty. 

Finally, Route One Rovers held Droylsden to a 0-0 draw at the Butchers Arms in the First Division North.  

The stalemate leaves the Bloods in 4th place, eight points behind league leaders Holker Old Boys. 

Midweek fixtures (all Tuesday 7:45pm kick-off): 

Ashton United v Matlock 
Glossop North End v Colne 
Widnes v Mossley (Weds, 7:45pm)