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NPL round-up | Hebburn return top as relegation-threatened trio claim big wins

With FC United of Manchester not in action this weekend, the door was wide open for Hebburn Town to take back their place atop the Northern Premier League, which they did in style.

The Hornets beat Lancaster City 4-1 at Hebburn Sports Ground, despite the Dolly Blues having the lead from the fifth minute to close to the hour mark.

However, a blitz from Daniel Moore’s side, which saw goals from Adam Heywood, Gary Martin, Olly Martin and Liam Murray, ensured a return to winning ways after consecutive draws, and a return to top spot too.

The Hornets are two points ahead of FC United now, but Mark Beesley’s side do still have two games in hand to overturn that deficit.

Elsewhere, the big winners of the weekend came down at the bottom.

Workington, despite being unbeaten for three months, finally moved out of the drop zone with yet another home win, this time against title-chasing Hednesford Town.

They’ve now won five straight games at Borough Park, and this one was the most impressive as Jake Allan, Steven Swinglehurst and Keelan Leslie all got on the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory over the Pitmen.

That’s now five wins in the last six, and nine games unbeaten for Billy Barr’s side, who are three points clear of the drop. Hednesford, meanwhile, remain third, three points off top spot.

Hyde United also climbed out of the drop zone after picking up a 3-0 home win against a side who started the weekend in the top five in Stockton Town.

Michael Clegg’s side took the lead via an own-goal inside the opening two minutes and didn’t look back from there, with Ben Kershaw and Dontai Gabidon also netting to ensure a big win - just their second in the league since the start of November.

They’re still level on points with two of the teams in the relegation zone, but are just above Prescot Cables on goals scored.

Cables, along with Morpeth Town, were the sides to replace Hyde and Workington. Cables’ winless run now stands at 10 matches after they fell to defeat at home to Ilkeston Town.

Ian Deakin’s side turned an early deficit on its head after Prescot took the lead inside 15 minutes. In the end, Robbie Fox’s 86th minute effort saw the Robins return to winning ways after a brief two-game winless run.

Meanwhile, Morpeth were unable to continue their two-game winning run as they fell at home to Leek Town.

Connor Heath netted the only goal in a tight affair to move the Blues seven points clear of the drop and a big step closer to securing their Step 3 status for next season.

Also picking up a big win down at the bottom were Stocksbridge Park Steels, who, despite still being bottom, are now just one point from safety after their 2-0 victory over Ashton United.

Goals either side of half-time from Romario Dunne and Kasper Williams led Jordan Lemon’s side to a massive three points, ending a five-game winless run and igniting their survival hopes.

Whitby Town were able to pull away from the drop zone with a much-needed win at Warrington Town to halt a three-game losing streak.

They’re now five points clear with the 2-0 win, while the Yellows dropped to 10th after a second consecutive defeat.

Elsewhere, Rushall Olympic were not able to pull away like Whitby did, a 3-1 loss at home to Guiseley ensuring they remain just two points above the drop.

The Pics took the lead inside five minutes through Anthony Dwyer but were unable to hold out for three points. An own-goal got Guiseley level, and Joe Cracknell saved a Rushall penalty just before half-time to keep the scores level.

That gave Ian Richards’ side the boost needed to go on and win, as goals after the break from Jordan Thewlis and Mo Fadera secured three points which now sees them 10 points clear of danger.

In the play-off race, that loss to Hyde actually saw Stockton fall out of the top five, after Gainsborough Trinity and Warrington Rylands’ battle at the Kal Group Stadium ended goalless.

Trinity moved back into the top five, and still have a game in hand to climb above Rylands, but they’ve now failed to win any of their last three matches.

And other than Hebburn, the only other side in the top 10 who picked up maximum points were Cleethorpes Town, who came away from Bamber Bridge with a 2-0 win thanks to second-half goals from Billy Whitehouse and Josh Walker.

With results elsewhere going their way, the Owls are now just six points adrift of the play-offs with five games remaining.

Results - Saturday 28 March