NPL round-up | FC United stumble, Stocksbridge relegated, and Prescot take survival bid to final day

The result of the weekend came at Broadhurst Park, as Hyde United upset FC United of Manchester, winning 1-0 to secure their place at Step 3 for next season.

Former FC United man Edy Maieco netted the only goal of the game in the second half to send the travelling fans into raptures, and Michael Clegg’s side held out to extend their vital unbeaten run to five games.

That’s now two defeats in three for Mark Beesley’s side. The title race is now no longer in their hands with their additional game in midweek, as both Hebburn Town and Hednesford Town won for the fourth straight game to pull five points ahead.

Hebburn came away from Bamber Bridge with a hard-fought 2-1 win.

Second half goals from Campbell Darcy and Gary Martin’s 26th of the campaign put the Hornets ahead, and while Bamber Bridge threatened a late comeback through Jordan Hodkin, Hebburn held out for all three points.

They remain top on goal difference, but Hednesford continue to stay right in their rear view mirror.

Omari Sterling-James proved to be the hero for the Pitmen in their win over Cleethorpes Town, scoring in the final 10 minutes to secure a tight 1-0 win.

Down at the bottom, Stocksbridge Park Steels became the first team to be relegated this season. They needed to pick up three points, but had to settle for a goalless draw against Ilkeston Town.

Prescot Cables refused to join them in Step 4 though, after they ended their 12-game winless run with a huge away victory at Gainsborough Trinity.

John Murphy and Tom Scully had put Cables ahead late on, and despite Ashton Offler getting one back for the Holy Blues, Russ Wilcox’s side couldn’t find a late equaliser.

Prescot climbed above Morpeth Town into 19th, after the Highwaymen were beaten 1-0 away from home by Rushall Olympic.

But both Prescot and Morpeth will take their survival bids to the final day after Whitby Town were beaten 3-2 away at a seemingly unstoppable Leek Town, who have now won five games in a row. 

The Seasiders went into the break ahead, but three second-half goals from the hosts put the game out of sight, even if Whitby did pull one back late on through James Harrison.

Lee Bullock and Jason Kennedy’s side will go into the final day knowing that a point will be enough to guarantee safety, but would have liked to have gone into next weekend already home and hosed.

Workington will be though, after they ended a three-game winless run with a come-from-behind 3-2 win at Warrington Town.

The Reds were two down at the break after goals from Elliot Morris and Reece Daly, but staged a dramatic second-half comeback, epitomising the never-say-die attitude that they’ve shown since February.

Jake Allan, Josh Palmer and Tom Stephenson were the heroes who kept Workington up, ensuring that their final game at Borough Park won’t have any relegation fears riding on it.

In the race for fifth place, three sides are now all neck-and-neck going into the final week of the campaign, as neither Stockton Town nor Lancaster City could take advantage of Gainsborough’s defeat, drawing 1-1.

Dom Lawson cancelled out Michael Sweet’s first-half opener for Stockton as the points were shared, in a result which saw both sides climb above Gainsborough on goal difference.

Stockton are currently the side in the driver’s seat, and will be looking to pull clear ahead of the final day with their game in hand at FC United on Tuesday.

And two sides who are confirmed to be in Step 3 next season, Ashton United and Guiseley, played out a 1-1 draw at Hurst Cross.

Results - Saturday 18 April

• Ashton United 1-1 Guiseley
• Bamber Bridge 1-2 Hebburn Town
• Cleethorpes Town 0-1 Hednesford Town
• FC United of Manchester 0-1 Hyde United
• Gainsborough Trinity 1-2 Prescot Cables
• Leek Town 3-2 Whitby Town
• Rushall Olympic 1-0 Morpeth Town
• Stocksbridge Park Steels 0-0 Ilkeston Town
• Stockton Town 1-1 Lancaster City
• Warrington Town 2-3 Workington

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