NPL preview | Top two at home as newly-promoted sides collide
A busy August continues in the NPL Premier Division, with a full round of games to come across Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Redcar Athletic host Emley in a battle of the in-form, newly-promoted NPL East Division sides at Green Lane.
In-form striker Adam Boyes - who netted 41 times during Redcar’s title-winning season - will be crucial for the Steelmen as they look to maintain their unbeaten start against ninth-placed Emley, whose only blemish came at the hands of Ilkeston Town a fortnight ago.
As for Craig Rouse’s league leaders Cleethorpes Town, they will search for their fifth win of the season against Whitby Town, who have suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Ashton United and Warrington Town respectively.
Losing 2-0 to the Robins on Tuesday and 5-0 against the Yellows in front of a home crowd on Saturday, Lee Bullock’s men will be keen to upset the apple cart and climb back into the top 10.
The aforementioned Warrington Town are bidding for a fifth win of their own against Curzon Ashton at the GXO Stadium.
A side searching for consistency on their return to NPL football. Adam Barton’s Curzon side, who were relegated from the National League North in 2025/26, sit 16th having picked up four points so far. This is despite opening the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Alfreton Town on home turf.
Bidding for their first win of the campaign, Quorn face a huge task of their own with Gainsborough Trinity making the trip to Farley Way.
The Methodists have picked up just the two points since their lateral move from the Southern League Premier Division.
As for the Holy Blues, they will be desperate to respond quickly following a dramatic defeat to Bury at the weekend. Bailey Sloane’s late header was enough to bag the three points in a 1-0 victory, meaning Bury sit just above Trinity in the final play-off spot in seventh.
In front of a home crowd at Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane, Anthony Johnson’s side will be confident of building on that huge result against Lancaster City.
The visitors sit just outside the relegation zone coming into Matchday 6. However, they could be inspired after a spirited performance against Quorn last time out, having come from behind twice to draw 2-2 at the Giant Axe.
With successive comeback victories against Bury at home and Curzon Ashton on the road, another side riding the crest of a wave is Guiseley.
Ian Richards’ side host lowly Stockton Town knowing victory will maintain their current standing in the play-offs.
The visitors, on the contrary, sit 17th following a maiden win of the campaign against Alfreton Town on Saturday. Goals from Stephen Thompson and Josh Scott were enough to seal a 2-0 triumph that clawed them out of the relegation zone.
Similarly, at the Fibrus Community Stadium, Workington face Warrington Rylands hoping that their opening win against FC United of Manchester last time out has kick-started their campaign.
Billy Barr’s side come into the latest round of games 19th in the table, but face another stern test against last season’s losing play-off finalists. That being said, Workington will be keen to reopen the wounds of Rylands’ recent 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Redcar Athletic.
Hoping to turn the tide of an even more difficult start, FC United travel to fellow strugglers Bamber Bridge as they look to rise off the foot of the table.
Mark Beesley’s side have claimed only one point in a surprisingly poor start, shipping 11 goals in the process. The Brig have not fared much better and sit 20th with only four points, losing 4-1 on their last outing at Leek Town. Nonetheless, they can take great encouragement from their only win against a strong Ashton United.
Over at the Impact Arena, Jake Buxton’s Alfreton Town face Hyde United, with both sides holding aspirations of climbing into the play-off spots.
The hosts sit 11th despite successive defeats on the road to Cleethorpes and Stockton Town, whereas the Tigers are a place above in 10th following two wins and two defeats (plus a draw) so far this season.
The same can be said for Ilkeston Town, who face an extremely tough test on the road at Ashton United.
Tris Whitman’s men have stuttered with back-to-back losses to the current top two but are well-placed in 13th, while fifth-placed Ashton have impressed following a busy summer transfer window. The hosts have picked up 10 points from five fixtures so far, including maximum points (6/6) at Hurst Cross.
Lastly, playing on Wednesday evening, in-form Avro host Leek Town.
Grant Shenton’s newly-promoted Ro side have begun strongly in their maiden campaign at Step 3 to sit third, collecting 12 points from a possible 15.
The rise in quality has appeared of no real concern for Shenton’s men, who have already picked up thumping victories against Bamber Bridge (6-1) and Workington (4-1) this season.
Despite starting slowly with only two points from four fixtures, visitors Leek will be boosted by their first victory of the campaign against Bamber Bridge last weekend.
Lucas Weir, Alex Panter, Jack Griffiths and Josh Bickerton were on the scoresheet for the Blues to capture an emphatic 4-1 win at the F. Ball Community Stadium. Josh Brehaut’s men lie in 15th, only one point above the drop zone.
All games will kick off at 7:45pm, unless stated otherwise.
Fixtures - Tuesday 25 August
- Alfreton Town vs Hyde United
- Ashton United vs Ilkeston Town
- Bamber Bridge vs FC United of Manchester
- Bury vs Lancaster City
- Cleethorpes Town vs Whitby Town
- Guiseley vs Stockton Town
- Quorn vs Gainsborough Trinity
- Redcar Athletic vs Emley
- Warrington Town vs Curzon Ashton
- Workington vs Warrington Rylands
Fixtures - Wednesday 26 August
- Avro vs Leek Town
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.