NPL preview | Saturday 21 September

The featured game takes place at the bottom of the table, in an early battle between the bottom two sides in the division, after previous basement side Blyth Spartans climbed up the table following a 3-0 win away at Stockton Town on Wednesday.

FC United of Manchester will be looking to halt a 10-game winless run in all competitions when they welcome bottom club Matlock Town to Broadhurst Park.

Matlock produced a much-improved performance in midweek, taking play-off hopefuls Ashton United to the wire at Hurst Cross, three days after picking up their first win of the season against Workington.

Ryan Cresswell will be looking for a first win as Matlock boss, and result which would see his side leap off the foot of the table and above their opponents.

At the top of the table, Worksop Town travel to Nethermoor to take on Guiseley, the side currently in fourth.

Craig Parry’s Tigers are unbeaten since their opening day 1-0 defeat to early league leaders Macclesfield. They have also kept clean sheets in seven of their nine league games so far.

Guiseley extended their unbeaten run to six league games on Tuesday after a 3-3 draw at home to Morpeth Town. The Lions have scored three in six of their last seven in all competitions, and are second in the league’s goalscoring charts, behind only their upcoming opponents.

Due to a vastly impressive +23 goal difference, a point would be enough for Worksop to leap into first, but only if Macclesfield fail to pick up points for the first time this season when they travel to Basford United.

Robbie Savage’s men currently boast a 100% winning record in September, but they face a Basford side occupying eighth, and fresh off of a convincing 3-0 away win at Gainsborough Trinity in midweek.

Elsewhere, Hebburn Town will be aiming to bounce back from their 6-2 home defeat against Whitby Town when they host Lancaster City.

Away from home, the Dolly Blues have been tough to beat, drawing four of their five games. In their nine league games so far, they’ve only won three, but still remain unbeaten with six draws to their name. 

Hebburn will be aiming to hand Lancaster their first league defeat of the season, and put an end to their current blip of three games without a win in all competitions. 

This weekend, Hyde United will look to climb into the top five with a positive result away from home at Morpeth Town.

Nicky Spooner’s side valiantly exited the FA Cup last weekend away at Southport, and are aiming to record a first league win in four games, after a small slump in form saw them slip outside the play-off places.

After winning their first three games and topping the league, Stockton Town have lost five of their last six games in the Northern Premier League, the most recent coming at home against early strugglers Blyth Spartans.

They travel to Gainsborough Trinity, who are also looking to bounce back from a 3-0 home defeat last time out against Basford.

Stockton will be hoping to carry their FA Cup form into the league, after they reached the third qualifying round for the first time in their history following a 3-2 win against National League North side Marine.

Blyth, who shot up the table into 16th after only their second league win of the season in midweek, travel to Mickleover with the aim of making it two wins from two.

Mickleover currently sit 11th with three wins, three draws and three defeats to show from the first nine games of the season, and will be hoping to return to winning ways following a 4-0 home defeat to high-flying Worksop in midweek.

Leek Town dropped into the bottom four following Blyth’s win on Wednesday. It’ll be a tough task to immediately climb back out of it, however, as they welcome Ilkeston Town to Harrison Park.

Workington, who occupy the place above Leek, host Whitby Town.

And Warrington Rylands will aim to turn their recent run of league draws into a win when they host Bamber Bridge.

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

Fixtures - Saturday 21 September

• Ashton United vs Prescot Cables
• Basford United vs Macclesfield
• FC United of Manchester vs Matlock Town
• Gainsborough Trinity vs Stockton Town
• Guiseley vs Worksop Town
• Hebburn Town vs Lancaster City
• Leek Town vs Ilkeston Town
• Mickleover vs Blyth Spartans
• Morpeth Town vs Hyde United
• Warrington Rylands vs Bamber Bridge
• Workington vs Whitby Town

Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.