NPL round-up | Saturday 21 December
The points were shared in six of the 10 games this weekend in the Northern Premier League, as sides in the division played their final games before Christmas.
League leaders Macclesfield were denied maximum points for only the fourth time this season, as Prescot Cables came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw.
The Pesky Bulls led at half-time, but two goals in as many minutes shortly after the break from D’Mani Mellor and Danny Elliott put Robbie Savage’s side in front.
However, John Murphy’s leveller 20 minutes from time earned Cables their fourth consecutive league draw.
Photo credit: Prescot Cables
Macclesfield remain 16 points clear at the top of the table after second-placed Guiseley drew their third successive game, sharing the points with Stockton Town.
The Lions led early through Jameel Ible, but they were pegged back with 10 minutes left thanks to a Tom Coulthard header.
Out of the sides starting the day in the top five, only Ilkeston Town were able to pick up maximum points, as they continued their fine home form with a 1-0 win over struggling Mickleover.
Tom Cursons’ 16th of the season - and his first league goal since early November - was all that separated the two sides, with his 88th minute winner ensuring their unbeaten home record now stands at 11 games.
Mickleover’s struggles continue, with 10 defeats in their last 11 games.
Gareth Holmes’ side were leapfrogged by Leek Town, who won their first game since mid-October in style, breezing past Basford United.
Leek have struggled at Harrison Park so far this season, but four goals inside 50 minutes had the hosts in dream land.
Photo credit: Leek Town
Basford pulled one back through Jordan Hallam, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a fourth straight defeat for Martin Carruthers’ side.
The Ambers fell into the bottom four after FC United of Manchester secured a hard-fought point away at play-off contenders Worksop Town.
Worksop took the lead through Luke Hall after six minutes, but were pegged back by the half-hour mark as Jay Fitzmartin fired the away side level.
Saturday’s point means Mark Beesley’s side have lost just one of their last eight league matches, with a big Boxing Day clash with Prescot Cables to come.
Warrington Rylands also picked up points again this weekend, as they drew for the second time in a week against another play-off chasing side in Ashton United.
Alex Kiwomya’s goal on the stroke of half-time cancelled out a Louis White opener, with no goals forthcoming in the second half.
The Robins remain two points clear of the chasing pack, after Hyde United could only share the points at home against Bamber Bridge.
Again, both goals came in the first half, with Liam Brockbank scoring three minutes after Jordan Scanlon had put the hosts in front.
Elsewhere, Hebburn Town put an end to their three-game losing run with a comfortable victory against basement side Blyth Spartans.
A 3-1 win for the Hornets has them right back in play-off contention, while Blyth are now eight points adrift of second-bottom Mickleover.
Gainsborough Trinity were beaten in the league for the first time since late September, as Nic Bollado’s seventh goal of the campaign was enough for Morpeth Town to run out 1-0 winners.
And Lancaster City drew their 11th game of the season, with Steven Rigg’s 12th goal of the season enough for Workington to earn a point at the Giant Axe.
Results - Saturday 21 December
- Ashton United 1-1 Warrington Rylands
- Guiseley 1-1 Stockton Town
- Hebburn Town 3-1 Blyth Spartans
- Hyde United 1-1 Bamber Bridge
- Ilkeston Town 1-0 Mickleover
- Lancaster City 1-1 Workington
- Leek Town 4-1 Basford United
- Morpeth Town 1-0 Gainsborough Trinity
- Prescot Cables 2-2 Macclesfield
- Worksop Town 1-1 FC United of Manchester
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.