Macclesfield hit Mickleover for six as promotion rivals falter | NPL round-up | Saturday 8 February

It was a fine return to winning ways for the Silkmen, who scored five times in the final half-hour having been pegged back early in the second half by the visitors.

In the end, it proved to be a difficult afternoon for a struggling Mickleover side that have picked up just four points from their last 10 league games and find themselves nine points from safety.

Macclesfield's afternoon was made even better by defeats to their two nearest challengers, Guiseley and Ashton United.

Guiseley's recent slump continued with a 2-0 defeat at Prescot Cables, who scored twice in the second half and climbed to 13th after consigning the Lions to a third straight loss.

In contrast, Ashton have been in excellent form of late but were unable to get the better of fellow promotion hopefuls Worksop Town, who ran out 2-0 winners at Sandy Lane.

Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs Starcenko broke the deadlock shortly after half-time, then top scorer Liam Hughes made sure of the points from the penalty spot six minutes from the end - netting his 16th of the season in all competitions.

Photo credit: Rbiphotography 

The result was made even more impressive considering Worksop were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half after Vaughan Redford was shown a second yellow card.

Fourth-placed Worksop moved further clear of Stockton Town who, like many of their fellow play-off incumbents, came away from the latest round of fixtures empty-handed.

The Anchors were beaten 3-1 by Warrington Rylands, who came from behind to strengthen heir promotion credentials, thanks to George Waring's double and a third in stoppage time from substitute Taylor Bowen.

In doing so, Neil Reynolds' Blues extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches with a fine display on the road.

Elsewhere in the race for the top five, Ilkeston Town moved to within a point of the play-offs after Alex Hardwick came off the bench to net the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Workington.

Despite enduring another defeat on their travels, Workington remain out of the bottom four after other results went their way.

Hebburn Town retained their grip on eighth after a goalless draw at Matlock Town, and goals in either half from Nathan Buddle and Nic Bollado helped Morpeth Town past Whitby Town in their Yorkshire Coast showdown - the Seasiders dropping into the relegation zone as a result.

Photo credit: Michael Porter Photography

Meanwhile, FC United of Manchester climbed into the top half after a 1-0 victory at Lancaster City.

Adam Le Fondre scored the only goal of the game shortly after the hour mark, his penalty enough to stretch Lancaster's winless run to six matches.

At the Project Solar Stadium, Dec Howe and Joel Amado exchanged first half goals as Hyde United and Gainsborough Trinity shared the spoils.

Further down the division, Willis Francis was beaten for the first time as Basford United boss as the Lions lost 1-0 at Bamber Bridge.

Blyth Spartans' own survival hopes were dealt a further blow at home to Leek Town, with the pair playing out a 1-1 draw.

Blues debutant Dylan Scott came off the bench to score in the dying stages, denying Spartans their fourth league win of the season.

Results - Saturday 8 February

• Bamber Bridge 1-0 Basford United
• Blyth Spartans 1-1 Leek Town
• Hyde United 1-1 Gainsborough Trinity
• Ilkeston Town 1-0 Workington
• Lancaster City 0-1 FC United of Manchester
• Macclesfield 6-1 Mickleover
• Matlock Town 0-0 Hebburn Town
• Prescot Cables 2-0 Guiseley
• Stockton Town 1-3 Warrington Rylands
• Whitby Town 0-2 Morpeth Town
• Worksop Town 2-0 Ashton United

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