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NPL round-up | Gainsborough and Bamber Bridge make up further ground in play-off race

Five games took place in the NPL Premier Division on Tuesday night, and there were big wins for sides just on the fringes of the play-offs.

First, in front of the ClubberTV cameras, it was Bamber Bridge who left Nethermoor with all three points, beating Guiseley 2-0 to secure their fourth straight league win.

Second-half goals from Ewan Bange and Archie Lang saw the Brig move within a point of the top five.

Gainsborough Trinity also made good on one of their many games in hand, blowing past Ashton United and winning 3-0 at Hurst Cross.

Jonny Margetts found himself at the double, either side of an Ashton Offler header, to pick up a third win in four for Russ Wilcox’s side, who are now just four points behind Stockton Town in fifth, having played two games fewer.

Both Bamber Bridge and Gainsborough will likely have eyes on Warrington Rylands, however, as Neil Reynolds’ side has played two and four games more than the two sides now in sixth and seventh respectively.

Rylands were able to keep them at bay for the time being, though, after they returned to winning ways in dominant fashion, beating Rushall Olympic 3-0 at home.

One side who weren’t able to cut the gap between themselves and the play-offs were Warrington Town, who failed to return to winning ways following defeat on Saturday.

Warrington’s opponents, Cleethorpes Town, picked up their first league win of 2026 in dominant fashion at their expense, beating the Yellows 4-1.

The Owls were 1-0 up heading into the break through Josh Walker, but when Warrington’s Kallan Murphy was sent off just three minutes before the break, Paul Carden’s side had a mountain to climb.

That mountain was made even steeper when Nicky Walker doubled the hosts’ advantage in first-half stoppage time.

Cleethorpes netted two more in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, and Max Thompson’s effort proved a mere consolation for Warrington, who are now five points off the top five.

And also five points removed from the play-offs are Lancaster City, who had to battle from behind at the Giant Axe to preserve a point against struggling Hyde United.

It’s back-to-back draws for Hyde under new manager Michael Clegg, following their goalless draw with Rylands on Saturday.

The Tigers have now not won a league game in over three months. The draw means they are now level on points with Morpeth Town, albeit still in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Results - Tuesday 3 February