Weekend football round-up: FA Trophy penalty heartbreak for Mossley and Stalybridge

Both our local sides in FA Trophy First Qualifying Round action yesterday came from behind, only to fall in penalty shootouts.

Mossley found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes at City of Liverpool, but found the resilience to claw themselves level with second half goals from Jack Marrow and Eric Yahaya. 

David Fish’s side, who toppled Whitby Town on penalties in the FA Cup last week, couldn’t repeat the feat. They lost 4-2 from the spot with Yahaya hitting the woodwork and Bailey Marsden’s tame effort being saved by Calvin Hare. 

“I thought in the second half we showed loads of character,” Fish told the club’s YouTube channel. “We played high up the pitch, we played in their half, we asked questions, and I thought we had more than enough chances to win it in the end. 

“Penalties are a lottery. We came out on top midweek, but it wasn’t to be today. That’s football.” 

Stalybridge Celtic’s winless run now stretches to five games after they also succumbed in an epic shootout against Ossett United. 

Bridge found themselves a goal down on 73 minutes, but captain Liam Tongue’s spot kick – his fifth penalty of the season – restored parity moments later. 

Tongue also tucked away Celtic’s first in the shootout, in which both sides missed their 3rd kicks. The tie went to sudden death, and with the score at 6-6 it was Jordan Butterworth who blinked first, Ossett keeper Aleks Petrovic making the decisive save. 

It was better news in the National League North, where Curzon Ashton came away from King’s Lynn with a 2-0 win to keep them on the tails of table topping Scunthorpe United. 

The home side, managed by former Nash boss Adam Lakeland and assisted by ex-captain Sam Walker, were neutralised by a disciplined Curzon.  

Stefan Mols opened the scoring from an indirect free kick inside the box just before the break, while Isaac Buckley-Ricketts capped a lively performance with a deft finish midway through the second half. 

“We know King’s Lynn are a tough team,” said Curzon player-manager Craig Mahon. “They’re full time, they’re well-drilled by Adam, and we knew they were going to be tough to break down. 

“The lads at the back deserve all the credit. Not once did I feel like we were going to concede." 

In the Northern Premier League (NPL), Hyde United’s eight-game unbeaten start to the season shuddered to an end at Guiseley. 

A pair of goals in each half saw the Tigers lose 4-0, with boss Nick Spooner conceding that heavy legs after two FA Cup games against FC United played their part. 

“We’ve got such a small squad,” he told the club’s YouTube channel. “They’ve had loads of minutes, but it’s disappointing the way we’ve given away the first two goals.  

“They were soft goals. Did they break us down? No. They were aggressive when they went long, they had their game plan and it caused us problems.  

“You don’t often get a game where everybody switches off, but it was just a bad day at the office.” 

Despite former Hyde goalkeeper Jordan Eastham making his debut on loan from Blackburn Rovers, Ashton United lost their first league game of the campaign, going down 1-0 at Hurst Cross to Morpeth Town. 

Darius Osei and James Hardy both rattled the post, the former had a shot cleared off the line and Tom Denton has strong penalty appeal waved away, but it was The Highwaymen who lived up to their nickname and stole the game right at the death with a Jack Foalle effort in the 96th minute. 

The Robins and Hyde both remain inside the top 5 of the NPL. 

Elsewhere, Glossop North End are three games unbeaten in the North West Counties Premier Division (NWCFL) after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at league leaders Ramsbottom United. 

Lewis Reilly gave the resurgent Hillmen a first half lead with his 5th strike of the season, before sustained Rammy pressure led to Scott Sephton’s headed equaliser.  

Richard Brodie’s side rode their luck at times but managed to cling on for a morale boosting point before they host Bury on Tuesday night.

New Mills continued their great form with a 1-0 win at Allscott Heath in the NWCFL First Division South.  

An early Harry Dean goal was the difference, taking the Millers to a ten-game unbeaten stretch and cemented second place in the table just behind Stafford Town. 

However, Droylsden couldn’t recover from going 2-0 down in their first ever trip to Thornton Cleveleys in the First Division North. 

A goal from Fuad Kasali mazy run was the day’s highlight, as the Bloods lost 3-1 at the seaside. 

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

City of Liverpool v Stalybridge Celtic (Monday, 7:45pm) 
Glossop North End v Bury 
Hyde United v Leek Town 
Macclesfield v Ashton United 
Mossley v Hednesford Town 
New Mills v Foley Meir