Weekend football round-up: Hyde win Tigers v Tigers battle

Both Tameside teams in the top flight of the Northern Premier League (NPL) came away with an excellent three points after yesterday’s games.

Hyde United ended a three-match winless run with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Worksop Town, who started the day in 2nd place. 

After a couple of early warning signs from the visitors, centre-half Joel Amado waltzed from the edge of one penalty area to the other in the 4th minute. The ball broke for Ewan Bange, whose movement bamboozled the Worksop defence, swivelling to volley his first home goal for the club. 

Despite the lead, Worksop penned Hyde into their own half for most of the opening 30 minutes, rattling the bar and forcing the Tigers’ defence into evasive action on multiple occasions.  

Ex-Hyde midfielder Aleks Starchenko was the Nottinghamshire side’s chief architect, but they became more impatient as the half wore on, with frequent overhit passes in the final third of the pitch. 

Nick Spooner’s side came out revitalised in the second half, pressing with more urgency and stifling Worksop’s direct approach. The manager’s son, Callum, weighed in with a rare goal just past the hour, scorching a swerved shot from 25 yards past a helpless Tommy Taylor. 

“We’ve been encouraging Callum for the last couple of years. He’s got a hell of a strike on him when he wants to, but he always seems to go for the pass. I don’t know if he was annoyed because something happened before that [Worksop’s Vaughan Redford was booked for an over-enthusiastic tackle on him], and I don’t think he’ll hit another one better. 

“Some results mean more than others, and I thought that performance, the way they dug in, was outstanding. It’s been coming for a couple of weeks now, and we’ve got a strong squad back, and I thought every one of them was excellent today.” 

The result pushed Hyde back into the play-off spots, with Ashton United one point further back after they picked up their first win in five NPL games with a 2-1 result at Stockton Town. 

The newly promoted home side started the day in 3rd place and took the lead just after the break courtesy of club legend Glen Butterworth. 

However, the Robins fought back with quickfire goals from Darius Osei and James Hardy to take the victory. 

It may have come at a cost, though, as both Sam Baird and Jason Gilchrist succumbed to injury in the first half. 

In the NPL West, Mossley twice clawed their way back against the in-form Congleton Town to draw 2-2 in front of a bumper crowd of 905 at Seel Park. 

Luke Barlow’s third and Eric Yahaya’s fifth strike of the campaign rescued a point for the Lilywhites, while Fin Madigan contributed another fistful of impressive saves. 

Congleton thought they’d snatched victory when Tom Hampton headed home in stoppage time, but the referee disallowed it for a foul.  

“It was a goal all day long,” said a bemused Congleton player-boss Richard Duffy. “I’ve no idea what he’s seen.” 

It was a tough day at the office for Stalybridge Celtic, who slipped to 7th in the table after losing 4-0 on their travels to a slick Nantwich Town. 

“I’m really disappointed,” said new Bridge manager Jon Macken. “Frustrated, angry. It was never going to be easy coming to Nantwich today, they’re on a good run, but we still should’ve been better than we were. 

“We gifted them four goals. We’re down to the bare minimum of players, there’s a lot of injuries, but that’s no excuse. They thoroughly deserved the win today.” 

After a tough week with league and FA Cup defeats, Curzon Ashton steadied the ship with a goalless draw at a soggy Spennymoor in the National League North, a result that pleased Nash player-boss Craig Mahon. 

“I’m happy. Usually, I try to win every game, and that’s what we’re set up to do, but if you can’t win, then don’t lose.  

“There was a good reaction [to the 1-0 home defeat midweek against Kidderminster Harriers]. We were really sloppy then, and it was probably down to the FA Cup game being on the Sunday, but we showed today that we can battle and we can fight. 

“Apart from not scoring, I’m really happy with the performance.” 

The result leaves Curzon in 5th places in the National League North, but with two games in hand on most of their rivals. 

Our last representatives are out of the FA Vase following New Mills’s 1-0 defeat at Hallam. A second half Leon Howarth goal was enough the condemn the Millers to fifth defeat in six games. 

Glossop North End managed a win on the road in the North West Counties Premier Division, though. Tom Lawless’s 12th goal of the season nudged the Hillmen into 16th place, putting them 16 points below the play-offs and 16 points above the relegation zone. 

Finally, Droylsden squandered a 2-0 lead in the Edward Case Cup, going down 2-3 at the Butchers Arms against Lancastrian side Euxton Villa. 

Midweek Fixtures (all Tuesday 7:45pm KO unless stated): 

FC St Helens v Glossop North End (NWCFL Premier) 
Marine v Curzon Ashton (National League North) 
Mossley v City of Liverpool (NPL West) 
Stalybridge Celtic v Radcliffe (Manchester Premier Cup, 1st Round)