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NPL round-up | Hebburn remain top, Hednesford slip up and Bamber Bridge boost play-off hopes

Sides in the NPL Premier Division saw out the first month of 2026 with a bang, with plenty of goals and excitement coming from Saturday’s fixtures.

Despite their game against Stocksbridge Park Steels being postponed, Hebburn Town remained top after Hednesford Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Gainsborough Trinity.

Gavin Hurren’s side had the lead for the majority of the contest at the Kal Group Stadium, but an equaliser from Holy Blues debutant Henry Brown with 10 minutes left meant the points were shared.

Hednesford are now level with Hebburn at the top, but remain second due to an inferior goal difference, and Daniel Moore’s side will have a gilt-edged opportunity to extend their lead when their game in hand is played.

Gainsborough drop to ninth but do have a plethora of games in hand to cut the gap to the top five.

Elsewhere, FC United of Manchester won a dramatic five-goal thriller at Rushall Olympic, with Jay Fitzmartin's goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time enough to end their three-game winless run.

An Adam Le Fondre double had Mark Beesley’s side two up at half-time against the Pics, but a two-minute salvo in the opening stages of the second half brought Rushall level.

In the end, FC United, who have been the masters of the late goal recently, once again netted in the dying embers. But instead of the goal salvaging a point, it ensured that all three headed back to Manchester.

Stockton Town also left it late to solidify their place in the top five with a return to winning ways against Cleethorpes Town.

After Liam Hughes had levelled proceedings for the Owls with eight minutes to go, it seemed like Craig Rouse’s side had earned a share of the spoils.

But Kevin Hayes popped up with a late winner to end Stockton's two-game winless run, moving the Anchors above Warrington Rylands and into the top four.

Rylands ended a small losing slump, but were unable to break the deadlock against Hyde United, as Michael Clegg’s first game in charge of the Tigers ended goalless.

Hyde’s wait for a win goes on. They’re now 12 games without victory, but were able to make some ground on the sides just outside the relegation zone with the point they accrued.

The gap between Hyde and Morpeth Town was halved after the Highwaymen were unable to make it back-to-back wins at home against Guiseley.

Jack Emmett netted the only goal of the game for Ian Richards' side, as Guiseley left Craik Park with all three points to their name.

Elsewhere in the pursuit of a place in the top five, it was Bamber Bridge who won the sixth versus seventh battle at the Cal.Delivery Stadium against Warrington Town.

An Olly Molloy double either side of the half saw Jamie Milligan’s side victorious for the third game in a row, and for the seventh time in their last nine outings.

With Rylands dropping points, Bamber Bridge are now just three points off a play-off spot with two games in hand.

And Lancaster City returned to winning ways with an impressive 3-2 victory over Ashton United.

Steve Cunningham’s side battled from 1-0 and 2-1 down to level things in the first half, but Sam Bailey’s effort just past the hour park proved to be the winning goal for the Dolly Blues, who picked up their first league win in over two months as a result.

And further towards the bottom, Leek Town were the big winners in the relegation battle, as they left Ilkeston with three goals and three points.

Josh Brehaut’s side raced out into a 2-0 lead in the opening half-hour, and when the Robins halved the deficit through a Sam Parker header early in the second half, they responded with a third nine minutes later.

Leek climb up to 14th with the win, and are now five points clear of the drop zone.

Finally, Workington were forced to share the points away at Prescot Cables, despite taking the lead inside the fifth minute and holding onto it for the majority of the game.

In the end, the pressure from the hosts paid off as Bradley Moonan netted four minutes from time to extend the basement club’s winless run to 12 games.

Results - Saturday 31 January