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NPL preview | Easter weekend

A busy Easter weekend looms for sides in the Northern Premier League, and given how close we are to the end of the campaign, the next two rounds of games could make or break entire seasons.

Each side, barring FC United of Manchester and Stockton Town, has at least five games remaining, and some have just four, so this double-header is incredibly important.

Hebburn Town begin the final month of the campaign top of the pile, but could find themselves second once more ahead of their only game this weekend against local rivals Stockton Town on Easter Monday.

This is due to FC United’s double-header, as they travel to Whitby Town on Good Friday, where only a win would see them jump ahead of Daniel Moore’s side. On Monday, Mark Beesley’s Reds host third-placed Hednesford Town in front of a large expected crowd at Broadhurst Park.

The Pitmen come into the weekend off the back of a draw and a defeat against two relegation-battling sides, but are just three points off top spot themselves, so they could wind up back above both Hebburn and FC United come 5pm on Monday if results go their way.

Speaking of results going their way, all three can confirm play-off positions this weekend, but it would depend on the results of those below them. More specifically, Warrington Rylands, who will have just two games remaining after their games over Easter.

The Blues host the in-form side over the last 10 games in Workington on Saturday, before making the short trip to the Cal.Delivery Stadium for the Warrington derby on Easter Monday.

A loss on Saturday would mean that Mark Beesley’s side can confirm at least a play-off place with a win at Whitby the day before, and Hebburn could then do the same by beating Stockton a couple of days later.

However, wins in those two for Rylands could see their play-off place in their own hands, as fifth plays sixth on Saturday with Gainsborough Trinity travelling to Stockton, in what will be a tasty affair.

The Holy Blues are winless in three, but a win at the MAP Group UK Stadium would see them move four points ahead of the Anchors, albeit with Michael Dunwell’s side holding that game in hand, ahead of the Easter Monday action, where Gainsborough host Guiseley and Stockton travel to Hebburn.

As for the sides with an outside shot of finishing in the top five, there’ll be a clearer view on their play-off chances after this weekend.

Cleethorpes Town can move three points behind Gainsborough before anyone else plays, as they host bottom club Stocksbridge Park Steels on Thursday to kick off the weekend’s action.

They then travel to Workington on Monday, which is a tough match-up, as the Reds have picked up maximum points in each of their last five games at Borough Park.

Lancaster City, who are five points behind the top five going into this weekend, and Bamber Bridge, who are seven adrift, meet on Easter Monday after taking on Morpeth Town and Leek Town on Good Friday respectively.

Depending on those results earlier in the weekend, a loss on Monday would likely end the play-off hopes for whoever is on the wrong end of the scoreline.

And down at the bottom, while Cleethorpes’ home game against Stocksbridge offers the Owls an opportunity to move three points closer to the play-offs, it also gives Jordan Lemon’s Steels side the chance to climb out of the drop zone before the rest of the division plays.

Stocksbridge, despite sitting bottom, are only one point removed from safety after a big win against Ashton United last weekend. With an inferior goal difference, only a win will see them off the foot of the table and out of danger momentarily.

Steels then host Leek Town on Easter Monday, with the visitors that trip to the side with the worst home record in the Premier Division as an opportunity to all but mathematically secure their Step 3 status for next season.

Prescot Cables don’t play on Easter Monday, so their game on Good Friday at Hednesford is vital for their survival chances.

They begin the weekend in the bottom three, and a defeat at Keys Park could see them end the Easter weekend bottom if results don’t go their way.

Morpeth are the other side in the drop zone currently, and Craig Lynch will be hoping that the current five-point gap between themselves and Whitby closes on Good Friday before their huge match-up against the Seasiders at Craik Park on Monday.

And Hyde United, fresh off their big win over Stockton last weekend, which saw them climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference, are facing arguably the two sides with the least to play for over the course of the weekend.

They travel to 11th-placed Guiseley on Saturday, and host 12th-placed Ashton on Monday, but with the latter being a fierce Tameside derby, Steve Cunningham’s side won’t be approaching that like they have little to play for.

Ashton actually have a lot of say in how the relegation picture may look at the end of the week. On Friday they host Rushall Olympic, who sit two points above the drop, before their five-mile trip to the Project Solar Stadium to end the extended weekend.

On Monday, the Pics host Ilkeston Town, who will be hoping to have confirmed their place in Step 3 for next season by the end of the Easter Weekend.

Before then, Ian Deakin’s side takes on Warrington Town on Saturday in a mid-table clash.

All games will kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise.

Fixtures - Thursday 2 April