Hyde 1 Stalybridge Celtic 1

All square in part one of this gripping local Tameside derby as these two huge rivals, who occupy the top two places in the Conference North as it stands, faced up to each other on Boxing Day.

The crowd was a massive 1,868, Hyde's largest home crowd for over 15 years, and as the game began the atmosphere was intense in a packed out Ewen Fields. After 90 seconds it was the Stalybridge fans who were going wild, as former Hyde player Phil Marsh got the ball in the penalty area facing away from goal, and he turned and fired the ball into the net.

Hyde have been a real surprise package this season - they were largely expected to be in the lower half of the table after narrowly escaping relegation on the final day of last season, but instead they've mainly been top of the table since the season began, with Stalybridge always just behind in 2nd. Before this match Hyde were 8 points above Stalybridge, but Stalybridge have 2 games in hand. Four points or more from their two games against Hyde would technically put the title race in Stalybridge's hands if they can then win their games in hand.

So given this, Stalybridge would probably have been happy enough with an away win before the match. But the early goal had Hyde rattled, and Stalybridge will rue that they didn't take further advantage of this in the first half. Chances for them including a free kick saved by the keeper's feet, a number of times where the final ball was either just overhit or poorly controlled, and a massive chance for Phil Marsh when a poor clearance put him through on goal, but with just the keeper to beat he fired over the bar.

Hyde came more into the game towards the end of the first half, and finished it with a number of corners and free kicks to have the Stalybridge fans biting their nails as 4 minutes were added on at the end of the half.

Hyde came out looking much stronger in the second half and created several early half chance, including a Danny Hall header comfortably saved. Stalybridge were doing little in terms of attacking threat and they largely focused on stopping Hyde from being able to create chances. They were largely succeeding, but midway through the half Hyde had a massive chance, Stalybridge keeper Jan Budtz blocked a shot but spilled the ball straight to Scott Spencer, but with the goal at his mercy Hyde's top scorer could only fire wide.

Phil Marsh had a shot saved for Stalybridge, but Hyde were getting an increasing amount of corners, and on the 81st minute they took advantage of this. A corner from the right set up an unmarked header into the net by Gianluca Havern, a rare defensive lapse from Stalybridge costing them dearly.

Stalybridge pushed for a winner after this, and Phil Marsh could have had a great chance from close range if he hadn't miscontrolled, sending the ball into the arms of the keeper. Late on Connor Jennings weaved through the Hyde defence and from his pass a powerful Greg Wilkinson shot was caught by Hyde's keeper Carnell.

Honours even at Ewen Fields, and Hyde remain 8 points ahead of Stalybridge having played 2 extra games. The two teams face each other again on New Year's Day, 3pm at Stalybridge's Bower Fold, and another massive crowd is hoped for in part 2 of this fierce local rivalry.