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NPL preview | Stockton host Hednesford, Warrington Town face former boss and Hebburn take on Ashton United

Another big weekend of action beckons, with massive games at the top and bottom of the table in the NPL Premier Division as the second half of the season rolls on.

The featured game comes at the MAP Group UK Stadium as Stockton Town host league leaders Hednesford Town.

With three consecutive wins, Michael Dunwell’s side are the form team in the division. That run of victories has also moved them within five points of the Pitmen atop the table.

A fourth consecutive win for Stockton would put them just two points behind Gavin Hurren’s side, and with a game in hand too, it provides the scope to even climb above them in the coming weeks.

If Stockton do pick up all three points or even if that game finishes level, FC United of Manchester will have another opportunity to climb to the top with a win, after they missed out on the chance to do so in midweek against Workington.

FC United manager Mark Beesley welcomes his former club Warrington Town to Broadhurst Park, with the Yellows also now just five points off the play-offs after picking up three points on Tuesday night.

If both Hednesford and FC United drop points, then the door would be open for Hebburn Town to reach the summit this weekend, given they sit just two points off the top and a point adrift from second.

The Hornets will be looking to start another winning run after their nine-game streak was ended last time out on Boxing Day at Stockton.

But like FC United, they’re taking on a side on the periphery of the play-offs, with hopes of crashing in there sooner rather than later.

Ashton United are the visitors at the Trustmark Group Stadium this weekend, looking to make it five games without defeat en route to cutting that gap between themselves and the top five.

Fifth spot is currently taken by Warrington Rylands, who host Guiseley this weekend.

Ian Richards’ side have picked up wins in their last two, and are only eight points off Rylands going into the weekend.

A third win in a row, and their sixth in eight games, could perhaps legitimise some late hopes of a top-five push for last season’s play-off finalists.

And if Rylands do lose, the side who could benefit the most is Lancaster City, who will be ready and waiting to leapfrog Neil Reynolds’ side into the top five if they return to winning ways at Ilkeston Town.

The Dolly Blues have picked up just one point in their last four games, but they do take on an Ilkeston outfit who are perhaps hurt from tasting defeat in midweek away at Whitby Town.

A return to winning ways for Ian Deakin’s side would see them move just three points behind Saturday’s visitors Lancaster.

There are big games towards the bottom of the table too. First, Rushall Olympic will be hoping to win for a third time in four and put some more distance between themselves and the drop zone when they host Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Stocksbridge, who currently reside in the relegation zone, are aiming to keep in touch with as many sides above them as possible, and a win here would see them move within two points of Ian Long’s side.

There are four sides above Park Steels, all sat on 25 points. Leek Town are at the bottom of the quartet and currently occupy the final relegation place, but they’ll be hoping to climb out when they host Cleethorpes Town.

The Owls do have games in hand and a vastly superior goal difference to the sides below them, but they are just five points better off than Josh Brehaut’s side going into Saturday’s clash at Harrison Park.

A win would put some much-needed points between themselves and the drop zone.

Hyde United, one of the sides level with Leek on 25 points, will look to end an eight-game winless run when they travel to Bamber Bridge.

The Brig’s charge up the table was halted slightly in midweek against Warrington Town, but they’ll be looking to dust themselves down and pick up a third win in four, and a fifth win in seven, at Hyde’s expense.

Come Saturday, it will have been four weeks since Prescot Cables were last in action. They will hope to mark their return with a bang when they host Whitby.

A win for Whitby in midweek put them six points ahead of Cables going into Saturday’s encounter, and they’ll be hoping to extend that and put even more distance between themselves and the drop zone.

And, Morpeth Town are looking for a positive result on the road when they travel to Gainsborough Trinity.

Russ Wilcox’s side are one of the many looking to mount a play-off charge in the second half of the campaign, and with games in hand on everyone around them, a win would ensure that they could still climb into the top five with wins in those extra games.

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

Fixtures - Saturday 17 January