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NPL round-up | Hebburn and Hednesford increase top-two grip as rivals drop points

It was a rather quiet weekend in front of goal in the NPL Premier Division, but there were still plenty of big results up and down the table.

Hebburn Town and Hednesford Town strengthened their grasp on the top two with respective 1-0 wins.

Daniel Moore’s Hebburn side kept their place at the top of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at basement club Workington.

Gary Martin was on target yet again for the Hornets as they condemned the Reds to their first defeat of 2026 after three draws to open the calendar year. They are now 10 points from safety as a result.

Hot on Hebburn’s heels, though, are Hednesford, who won for the second straight game at home to Leek Town.

Like Hebburn, the Pitmen hit the front in the first half through Ollie Harrison, and held out for all three points.

Photo credit: Oli Jelfs

There’s now a six-point gap between Hednesford in second and FC United of Manchester in third, as Mark Beesley’s side fell to defeat away at Morpeth Town.

It was another slim 1-0 scoreline with the goal coming early on at Craik Park, as Alfie Henderson’s effort inside nine minutes was all that separated the two sides.

The Highwaymen ended a three-game losing run at the hands of FC United, and having started the weekend in the relegation zone, climbed out of it with a huge three points.

Replacing them in 19th are Hyde United, whose winless run extended to 11 games after falling to a 2-1 home defeat against Rushall Olympic.

The Pics hit the front inside the first minute through Harry Wakefield, and then Carter Lycett doubled their lead on the hour mark.

Rushall missed a penalty to make it 3-0, and then Hyde halved the deficit moments later through Edy Maieco. However, a comeback couldn’t be completed

The Tigers fell to defeat, and manager Martin Coyne tendered his resignation shortly after, with former Atherton Collieries boss Michael Clegg confirmed as his replacement on Sunday evening.

Back towards the top, Warrington Rylands couldn’t capitalise on dropped points from FC United as they, too, fell to defeat away at Ashton United.

First-half goals from Darius Osei and an own-goal from former Robin Matty Regan saw Steve Cunningham’s side take a commanding lead.

Charlie Munro did pull one back for the visitor in spectacular fashion, but it proved to be a mere consolation in second-half stoppage time.

As a result of Saturday’s win, Ashton strengthened their top-five hopes and are now just five points adrift of the play-offs.

Also strengthening their play-off claims were Warrington Town, who are now seven unbeaten following a big 2-1 win over Prescot Cables at the Cal.Delivery Stadium.

Photo credit: Colin Keown

Paul Carden’s side had to come from behind in the second half to secure all three points, with Yellows top scorer Reece Daly ensuring the win in the final minutes with a well-taken volley.

Cables are now just two points above the drop zone, having lost in the league for the first time since early December. Warrington, meanwhile, are now just two points behind Stockton Town in fifth.

Just behind the Yellows are Bamber Bridge, who won for the sixth time in eight games to move within four points of the play-offs, downing Stocksbridge Park Steels at Bracken Moor.

In the only game of the weekend that was won by a margin of two or more goals, a first-half strike from Emerich Poilly and a penalty from Ewan Bange secured all three points against Stocksbridge, who remain second-bottom.

The gap was closed between the chasing pack and Stockton, as the Anchors dropped points away at Guiseley. It ended 1-1 at Nethermoor.

Amar Purewal’s opener inside 15 minutes was cancelled out in the second half by Joao Silva, meaning neither side managed a return to winning ways after defeats in their previous fixtures.

The only other game of the weekend between Cleethorpes Town and Ilkeston Town ended goalless, with the two sides ending the weekend 13th and 11th respectively.

Results - Saturday 24 January