NPL round-up | New Year’s Day

Macclesfield produced a five-star performance away from home, winning 5-2 against a Hyde United side that have now gone six matches without a win.

Despite being reduced to 10 men at 2-1, Hyde battled well and equalised through Jack Redshaw’s second of the game and 16th of the season.

But three goals in the final 20 minutes saw Robbie Savage’s side return to winning ways after a couple of matches without victory. 

They weren’t the only side to score five to open the new year, as Ilkeston Town turned on the style against Basford United to continue their unbeaten home record in the league this season.

A nine-minute hat-trick from Tom Cursons in the first half put him back on top of the Northern Premier League goalscoring charts and had the Robins in dreamland.

Second-half strikes from Connor Dixon and Colin Daniel added extra gloss and condemned Basford to a sixth straight defeat - this the heaviest during that time. 

Ilkeston remain four points adrift of the top three following more excellent performances from both Guiseley and Worksop Town.

Guiseley continued their unbeaten run with a 3-1 win against Bamber Bridge.

Mark Bower’s side are now 14 games unbeaten, last tasting defeat in the league over three months ago. 

Meanwhile, Aaron Martin scored a brace to help Worksop Town to a 4-1 home win over Gainsborough Trinity. Trinity have now lost three games in a row, while Worksop’s triumph extended their current unbeaten run to five.

Two goals in the opening half-hour were enough for Ashton United to pick up a 2-0 win at home to FC United of Manchester.

Another of the division’s high-flyers, Hebburn Town, were victorious against Workington.

Tom Stephenson put the Reds into an early lead inside 10 minutes, but the Hornets found themselves ahead by half-time. A third from Paul van Zandvliet six minutes from time secured a 3-1 win.

Elsewhere, it was a late heartbreak for Leek Town, who were denied a third straight league win at home to Matlock Town, with the two sides playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw.

A Montel Gibson double inside half an hour had the Gladiators in front, but three unanswered goals from Leek appeared to have them well on their way to just a third home win of the season.

But Charlie Oglesby’s 94th minute equaliser saved a point for the away side, extending their unbeaten run to six league games.

In the rest of the New Year’s Day action, two goals in the last 20 minutes were enough for Stockton Town to secure a 2-0 away win over Whitby Town - their first league win since late November.

Goals from Michael Sweet and Adam Nicholson were also enough to see them rise to seventh in the table. 

And the other two games of the day ended goalless, as the bottom two sides in the division picked up points.

Blyth Spartans have now drawn three of their last six, after a 0-0 stalemate at Morpeth Town.

And nothing could separate Lancaster City and Mickleover for the second time this season, with the two also playing out a goalless draw.

The only other scheduled game of the day between Prescot Cables and Warrington Rylands was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 

Results - Wednesday 1 January

• Morpeth Town 0-0 Blyth Spartans 
• Ashton United 2-0 FC United of Manchester
• Guiseley 3-1 Bamber Bridge
• Hebburn Town 3-1 Workington
• Hyde United 2-5 Macclesfield
• Ilkeston Town 5-0 Basford United
• Lancaster City 0-0 Mickleover
• Leek Town 3-3 Matlock Town
• Prescot Cables P-P Warrington Rylands
• Whitby Town 0-2 Stockton Town
• Worksop Town 4-1 Gainsborough Trinity

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