Weekend football round-up: Curzon to top National League North for Christmas

Curzon Ashton will sit at the top the National League North table for Christmas after a comprehensive 3-0 home win over South Shields on Saturday.

The Nash took a 3rd minute lead when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts pounced on a shot from skipper Jimmy Spencer, diverting the ball past a stranded Myles Boney. 

The captain – who signed a contract extension last week to keep him at the Tameside Stadium until 2027 – doubled Curzon’s advantage less than ten minutes later, drilling home Will Hayhurst’s lofted cross. 

Curzon restricted the visitors to ambitious long-range efforts while continuing to carve out their own opportunities. 

Adam Barton, Isaac Sinclair and Stafan Mols all came close to stretching the lead, but the home side were great value going into the break 2-0 up. 

The Nash kept an improved South Shields at arm's length in the second half, with Mike Afuye, Buckley-Ricketts and Hayhurst all testing Boney with quickfire counterattacks. 

They put the game to bed on 78 minutes when Luis Lacey danced in from the right side of the box and smashed a shot inside the near post for 3-0. 

The result puts Craig Mahon’s side five points clear with a game in hand over most of the chasing pack going into the festive period. 

In the Northern Premier League (NPL), Ashton United jumped back into the play-off spots with a 4-1 drubbing of Morpeth Town. 

As with their neighbours, the Robins took a 3rd minute lead when Jason Gilchrist ended a six-game goalless streak by converting a deft James Hardy through ball. 

Steve Cunningham’s side rained shots on the Morpeth goal in the opening 20 minutes, but couldn’t add to their tally before the break. 

Ashton captain Luke Burke forced a superb save from Dan Langley before a teasing Louis White cross almost squirmed into the far corner at the start of the second half. 

However, former FC United forward Nic Bollado restored parity for the home side against the run of play on 57 minutes. 

A combination of Gilchrist and a Morpeth defender restored Ashton’s lead on 70 minutes, after which the visitors found their shooting boots. 

James Hardy made it 3-1 before Nathan Lowe put a bow on the performance with a fourth goal in stoppage time. 

Hyde United slipped back into 6th after a frustrating 1-1 home draw with high-flying Guiseley. 

The Tigers took the lead when birthday boy Ewan Bange finished a move he started on 25 minutes. Winning the ball in midfield, he dashed past Harry Bunn whose pinpoint return pass dropped straight into the striker’s path, Bange bending it first time around a full stretch Joe Cracknell. 

Man of the match Matt Fearnley zinged a shot just over from distance and Bange attempted a dipping volley from 30 yards, but Hyde went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead. 

They ramped up the pressure in the second half, with the increasingly influential Fearnley caressing a ball into the box which Bunn blasted wide. 

Bange tested Cracknell midway through the half when wiggling into the area, but with Hyde comfortable, referee Connor Everard blew for a Guiseley penalty after a challenge from a baffled Drew Baker. 

Will Longbottom converted for his 22nd goal of the season. 

Hyde went back on the offensive, with Bange hitting the post from a Bunn cross and a ferocious effort from Callum Spooner being turned away by Cracknell. 

The Tigers had a huge penalty shout turned down when substitute Jay Glover was scythed down only for the ref to play the advantage when the ball ran into the path of Fearnley, but the excellent Cracknell was again equal to his stinging drive. 

“He’s given them a penalty, and I don’t understand why he’s not given us a penalty,” said Hyde boss Nick Spooner after the 1-1 draw. “I’ve never heard our crowd have that type of reaction to a referee, they’re normally very respectful to the officials, and that summed it up. He spoiled the game. 

“Guiseley are a good team, you’ve just got to look at their bench. I thought second half we were just superb. We should’ve scored four or five chances, Callum’s [Hiddleston] not had a save to make, and when you look at the score it’ll say 1-1, but it doesn’t give you a full picture of the game. 

“I think we deserved the extra two points today.” 

It was a tough day for our teams in the NPL West, as both Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic succumbed to defeats. 

Bridge picked up five yellow cards in their 2-0 home loss to Congleton Town, while Mossley’s outstanding run of form shuddered to a halt in a surprise 3-0 reversal at Stafford Rangers. 

“I think we’re a good side who have bad days, not an average side who have good days,” said Lilywhites manager David Fish, who expects Eric Yahaya and Mason Fawns to return to the squad soon. 

In the North West Counties (NWCFL), Glossop North End put their recent wobble behind them with a solid 3-1 win at Pilkington. 

The Hillmen made a lightning start, with Tom Lawless and Conal Gallagher twice coming close in the opening ten minutes. 

Captain Lee Rick broke the deadlock from the spot on 12 minutes after a handball, while Eric Djalo doubled their lead moments later on his return from suspension. 

Former Wigan Athletic youngster Kyle Worsley bagged his first Glossop goal before the break to give the visitors a 3-0 half-time lead. 

St Helens-based Pilkington fought back in the second half, but despite Ryan Beigan pulling one back, the Hillmen saw the game out for a much-needed three points. 

Elsewhere, New Mills stopped a five-game losing streak with a stalemate against a much-improved Runcorn Town at Church Lane in the NWCFL South. 

However, a full-strength Droylsden side went down 5-1 in the Macron Cup 3rd Round to NWCFL Premier side, Charnock Richard.  

Connor Brotherton scored the consolation for the Bloods just before half-time. 

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

Gainsborough Trinity v Hyde United (NPL Premier) 
Glossop North End v FC St Helens (NWCFL Premier) 
Mossley v Kidsgrove Athletic (NPL West) 
Stalybridge Celtic v Curzon Ashton (Manchester Premier Cup Quarter Final)