NPL round-up | Spoils shared between top two, wins for Stockton and Rushall and Bamber Bridge miss chance to move into play-offs

The hosts, who parted ways with manager Gavin Hurren the day before their big top-of-the-table clash, took the lead inside the opening half-hour through Akheem Rose.

The Hornets battled back in the second half, however, and got themselves level through Jack Donaghy eight minutes after the restart. 

The point meant back-to-back draws for Hebburn, while Hednesford have been forced to share the points in each of their last three. Daniel Moore’s side remain top on goal difference, but they do have a game in hand on the Pitmen.

While that match-up in front of the ClubberTV cameras couldn’t find a winner, there was no stopping Stockton Town from taking all three points in the other streamed game last night against Prescot Cables.

Cables had the lead at half-time, but an eight-minute salvo in the second half saw Michael Dunwell’s side score three times to put the game out of reach for the away side.

Ste Daley’s Cables remain just four points above the drop zone, with sides below holding games in hand, while Stockton climbed above Warrington Rylands and into the top four with Tuesday's win.

The return to winning ways for the Anchors helped put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack too, as Bamber Bridge’s five-game unbeaten run was ended at home against fellow play-off hopefuls Gainsborough Trinity.

A win for Jamie Milligan’s side would have seen them leapfrog Rylands into the top five, but it wasn’t to be, as a goal from Lewis Butroid, plus a couple in the final 15 from Sisa Tuntulwana and Jordan Helliwell, condemned the Brig to a 3-1 defeat.

It was a big three points for Russ Wilcox’s side, who needed to bounce back after being beaten by Leek Town on Saturday. 

The Holy Blues are now four points behind Rylands in fifth, but with three games in hand.

And in Tuesday’s other game, Rushall Olympic ended their two-game losing run with a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Lancaster City.

Luke Enright got the decisive goal in the second half for Ian Long’s side, who put some much-needed distance between themselves and the drop, with the Pics now five points clear of Morpeth Town in 19th.

Lancaster’s play-off hopes took a hit with the defeat, the Dolly Blues now finding themselves six points adrift of the top five.

Results - Tuesday 10 February

• Bamber Bridge 1-3 Gainsborough Trinity
• Hednesford Town 1-1 Hebburn Town
• Lancaster City 0-1 Rushall Olympic
• Stockton Town 3-1 Prescot Cables

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