NPL round-up | Boxing Day

Leek Town stunned the Silkmen at the Leasing.com Stadium, with a 90th minute winner from Julius Ndene enough to earn a 2-1 victory and hand Robbie Savage’s side their first home league defeat of the campaign. 

The Blues remain in the bottom four but are now only a point behind Prescot Cables in 18th, after the Pesky Bulls were put to the sword by FC United of Manchester.

Mark Beesley’s side ran out emphatic 4-0 winners, with four different goalscorers helping them to just a second league triumph of the season at Broadhurst Park.

Cables, meanwhile, are now eight games without a win in the league, last picking up maximum points in late October.

Blyth Spartans suffered defeat again, but not without putting in a valiant second-half effort at home to Whitby Town.

Michael Connor’s side were 3-0 down at half time, and 4-1 behind with 20 minutes to go. 

Ultimately, Spartans left themselves with too much to do, as two late goals weren’t enough to salvage a point in a game which saw the visitors reduced to nine men in the closing stages. 

Warrington Rylands put more space between themselves and the bottom four with a 2-0 win at home against play-off hopefuls Hyde United.

First-half goals from Ben Hardcastle and Jake Burton secured the three points for Rylands, who move up to 14th in the table. 

Hyde drop to seventh in the table, after Hebburn Town picked up a point away at Stockton Town.

Daniel Savage cancelled out Stephen Thompson’s goal inside three minutes to ensure a fiery north-east derby ended level. 

Hebburn’s point also saw them gain ground on the play-offs, as Ashton United’s game at Mickleover was abandoned after an hour due to unplayable weather conditions.

The Robins led 3-0 at the time of the abandonment.

Ilkeston Town remain fourth, despite shipping four without reply away at Matlock Town.

Two goals either side of the half for the Gladiators - started and finished by Montel Gibson - secured a dominant three points for a Matlock side who have now won four out of their last five and end the calendar year in fine form. 

Guiseley were the only side who started the Boxing Day festivities in the play-offs to pick up maximum points, as they extended their impressive unbeaten run with a 2-0 win away at Gainsborough Trinity.

The Holy Blues have now lost their last two following a recent run of five straight wins.

Guiseley, however, picked up a much-needed win after three successive draws. Mark Bower’s side are now 13 games unbeaten in the league, and 13 points behind leaders Macclesfield.

Lancaster City won a five-goal thriller, as they ran out 3-2 winners away at Bamber Bridge.

Bamber Bridge fought back after going behind twice, but they couldn’t find an answer to Lewis Mansell’s winner 10 minutes from time.

The Dolly Blues’ first win since mid-November saw them move to within four points of the top five.

And Steven Rigg’s 90th minute leveller saw Workington salvage a point at home against Morpeth Town, as the two sides drew 2-2.

Finally, the post-Martin Carruthers era at Basford United got off to a losing start as they were beaten 3-1 by Worksop Town. 

A Liam Hughes double helped them on their way, with all four goals scored during a frantic 13-minute period during the second half. 

The Tigers move to within one point of second-placed Guiseley, while Basford missed the chance to climb out of the bottom four. 

Results - Thursday 26 December

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

Results - Saturday 28 December

• Basford United 1-3 Worksop Town

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