NPL preview | Eye-catching games on the way in full midweek round
There are some big fixtures on the way on Tuesday night in the NPL Premier Division, with a full round of midweek action to enjoy.
One of the more eye-catching fixtures comes in the north-east, where last season's play-off semi-finalists Stockton Town host an Ashton United side that find themselves top of the table after Matchday 1.
Stockton will be keen to get off the mark on Tuesday night, having conceded a 96th minute winner away at Ilkeston Town on the opening weekend.
As for Ashton, they will hope to build on an impressive 4-1 win over Lancaster City on Saturday afternoon.
The aforementioned Lancaster are at home on Tuesday night to a Warrington Rylands side that claimed one of the results of the opening weekend in the NPL.
Neil Reynolds' Blues scored three without reply at home to FC United of Manchester, one of the pre-season favourites to challenge for the title.
For FC United, a return to Broadhurst Park beckons as they host Leek Town.
Their match-up is the only one of the 11 midweek games which will be contested between two sides beaten on the opening day of the season in the NPL Premier Division.
Third-placed Cleethorpes Town will make the trip to Quorn, meanwhile, in what will be the Reds' first-ever home game in the division.
While Cleethorpes were 2-0 winners at home to Bamber Bridge on the opening weekend, Quorn let slip a one-goal lead away at newly-promoted Avro as a pair of second-half goals saw the Ro clinch all three points on their Step 3 debut.
Fresh from that win, Grant Shenton's side will travel to Bamber Bridge for their first midweek action of the season, as they look to build on a strong record away from home last term which saw them lose just four of their 21 league games on the road.
Elsewhere, Warrington Town will hope to make it two wins from two at home to Hyde United, who played out a goalless draw with Emley on the opening day.
Paul Carden's Yellows were impressive 2-1 winners at Guiseley on Saturday, in a game which saw two debutants in Ewan Bange and Alex McNally score their first goals for the club.
Guiseley, following on from that loss at Nethermoor, will look to make amends as they make the 85-mile trip to the Yorkshire Coast to face Whitby Town.
Whitby enjoyed success on the opening weekend, coming from a goal down to secure three points on their travels at Leek Town.
Meanwhile, a huge night beckons at Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane as Bury play their first home game of the campaign against Greater Manchester neighbours Curzon Ashton.
The Shakers' home form in the NPL West last season was the joint-best, with 15 wins, three draws and just three defeats accrued from their 21 games on home soil.
Tuesday sees Anthony Johnson's side face a Curzon outfit buoyed by a 1-0 victory at home to Alfreton Town on the opening weekend.
Two of the other sides that picked up wins on Matchday 1, Gainsborough Trinity and Ilkeston Town, will hit the road on Tuesday night to face Alfreton and Emley respectively.
Back at Step 3 after 25 years away, it promises to be a big night especially for Emley, who will be looking to build on Saturday's goalless draw with Hyde and continue riding the crest of a wave which has seen them win promotion twice in the last three seasons.
The final game of the midweek slate will see newly-promoted Redcar Athletic make the long trip west to Cumbria to face off against Workington.
Tuesday's game will mark the start of a new era for Workington, who said goodbye to Borough Park in April, and will this season play at rugby league side Workington Town's Fibrus Community Stadium whilst work begins to construct the new 5,000-capacity Cumberland Sports Village in place of their former ground.
All games will kick off at 7:45pm, unless stated otherwise.
Fixtures - Tuesday 11 August
- Alfreton Town vs Gainsborough Trinity
- Bamber Bridge vs Avro
- Bury vs Curzon Ashton
- Emley vs Ilkeston Town
- FC United of Manchester vs Leek Town
- Lancaster City vs Warrington Rylands
- Quorn vs Cleethorpes Town
- Stockton Town vs Ashton United
- Warrington Town vs Hyde United
- Whitby Town vs Guiseley
- Workington vs Redcar Athletic
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.