NPL preview | Saturday 4 January

League leaders Macclesfield welcome Worksop Town to the Leasing.com Stadium.

Robbie Savage’s Silkmen won the previous meeting by a slim 1-0 scoreline on the opening weekend of the season, and a similar result this time around would create a 17-point gap to their opponents, with a game in hand still to play.

Second-placed Guiseley will be aiming to extend their current unbeaten league run to 15 games when they travel to Workington.

Workington have lost only twice at Borough Park this season however, and will come into this one eager to end a current winless run of five games.

Ilkeston Town’s unbeaten home record will be put to the test yet again as they host a Leek Town side that have found some form over the Christmas period.

A late equaliser denied Leek a third straight league win on New Year’s Day, but victory this time out would lift the Blues out of the relegation zone.

Ian Deakin’s side are on the hunt for a third win in four, and they come into this game full of confidence following a 5-0 triumph over Basford United in their most recent outing. 

Another of the sides in the top five, Ashton United, are in action against basement club Blyth Spartans, who are searching for their first league win in 14 games.

Four goals were evenly split between the two sides in their previous meeting in August, and Ashton will be hoping to turn one point into three as they look to secure a fourth win in five.

Elsewhere, one of the form sides in the division takes on a side without a win in eight as Matlock Town host Prescot Cables.

The Gladiators have gone six games unbeaten and have their eyes on the top half - something which seemed a long way away when boss Ryan Cresswell was appointed back in September.

Cables have picked up just four points from their last eight games and find themselves teetering above the bottom four. 

They’ll be hoping to kick-start the new year with three points, in their first game of 2025.

Warrington Rylands are also in action for the first time this calendar year, welcoming Hebburn Town to the Hive Arena.

Over the last six games, Rylands have picked up more points than Hebburn, but two wins in  their last three have the Hornets chasing down the top five once again.

A second straight win could potentially send Hebburn back into the play-offs, whilst also dealing a first loss for Neil Reynolds and his side since Ilkeston took all three points off them back in late November.

A mid-table six-pointer takes place at the SFC Stadium as Bamber Bridge host Whitby Town.

A win for the Brig would see them go level on points with their opponents, as they look to put some space between themselves and the bottom four.

And FC United of Manchester take on Morpeth Town, hoping to pick up their third win at Broadhurst Park this season against a side with one of the better away records in the division.

Victory for the Highwaymen would be their sixth away from home already this season, and a much-needed three points after a couple of draws in their last two.

All games are set to kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise.

Fixtures - Saturday 4 January

• Bamber Bridge vs Whitby Town
• Blyth Spartans vs Ashton United
• FC United of Manchester vs Morpeth Town
• Ilkeston Town vs Leek Town
• Macclesfield vs Worksop Town
• Matlock Town vs Prescot Cables
• Warrington Rylands vs Hebburn Town
• Workington vs Guiseley

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