Bloods end year on a high

Droylsden ended 2024 with yet another win, beating Garstang 3-1, with strikes from Nellson Van and Sheriff Njie giving the Bloods a comfortable lead at halftime before Harry Forshaw’s second-half effort settled proceedings.

Dave Pace’s side would take the lead just seven minutes into the contest when Caelan Kilheeney’s free kick was headed home by Van to score his seventh goal of the campaign.

Garstang would then equalise in the 22nd minute, with Daniel Squires tapping home after Jordan Latham saved the initial free kick. However, after a short discussion with his assistant, the referee would rule out the goal for offside in the buildup.

Droylsden would then double their lead in the 36th minute when Ben Lowe played in Fuad Kasali down the left wing, who played a low cross, finding Sheriff Njie to give his side a deserved 2-0 advantage.

The Bloods would require a defensive intervention from Liam Moran just after the break, making a last-ditch tackle to prevent the home side from pulling one back after Squires had rounded the keeper.

The increasingly worsening state of the pitch did not stop Droylsden from pursuing a third and their perseverance paid off in the 65th minute when Harry Forshaw fired home Tawab Djankpata’s cross.

Despite Droylsden’s best efforts to add a fourth, it was the home side who scored the final goal in the closing moments. Jordan Squires finally got his goal after Jordan Latham had firstly saved a header from a corner, with the former tapping home on the rebound.

After their game against Bacup Borough was postponed, Droylsden’s first game of 2025 will now take place this Saturday at home to 11th-place Daisy Hill. Dave Pace’s side sit in third, six points behind league leaders Nelson but have three games in hand.