NPL round-up | Hebburn slip up and Workington win back-to-back as Lancaster and FC United hit four

Hebburn Town missed out on the opportunity to return to the top of the table after falling to just their second defeat since November away at Ilkeston Town.

Ian Deakin’s side came out on top in a tightly contested five-goal thriller, with a brace from Daniel Odunaiya and a header from Robbie Fox securing a big 3-2 win.

That’s now five games without a win for Daniel Moore’s side, after the Hornets drew four on the spin before their latest defeat at the New Manor Ground. 

More importantly, it means that Hednesford Town remain top, having now played the same number of games as Hebburn.

FC United of Manchester took full advantage of the side in first not playing, though, as they put Stocksbridge Park Steels to the sword, winning 4-0 at Broadhurst Park.

Matty Grivosti netted a brace either side of Jay Fitzmartin’s 10th of the campaign. And a debut goal in the second half from Donald Chimalilo added gloss to a convincing win.

Mark Beesley’s side are now level with Hebburn and a point off Hednesford, while Stocksbridge remain in the relegation zone.

Also remaining in the relegation zone this weekend are Workington, but the gap to safety is now just three points after they won yet again, this time against Rushall Olympic.

Dan Hopper netted the only goal of the game inside the opening four minutes, leading the Reds to a third win in four, and a third straight home win, all of which have come via a 1-0 scoreline.

The three points weren’t enough to lift them off the bottom of the division though, as Morpeth Town ended their three-game losing run with a hard-fought point at home to Ashton United.

Ashton took the lead half an hour in through Sean Newton, but were pegged back three minutes later by JJ Hooper, and the sides battled to a stalemate from there.

Like Workington, Morpeth are just three points from safety, and with six points now separating 14th from the bottom, it promises to be a blockbuster relegation scrap as we head deeper into the run-in.

Prescot Cables are the side on the worst run of form in that pack down at the bottom, as they lost for the fourth straight game,, shipping four without reply at home to Lancaster City.

Jimmy Marshall’s side had four different players on the scoresheet to mark one of their most complete performances of the campaign, and one which has now moved them to within four points of the top five.

The severity of the defeat meant that Hyde United were able to climb ahead of Prescot to 17th, despite them also falling to defeat away at Warrington Town.

The Yellows battled hard to end their five-game winless run, in-turn handing Michael Clegg his first defeat as Hyde boss since he took over in late January.

Elsewhere, Whitby Town were able to increase the gap between themselves and the drop zone to four points, after they held Warrington Rylands to a 1-1 draw at the Towbar Express Stadium.

Matty Tymon’s leveller 15 minutes from time cancelled out Paddy Gamble’s opener, denying Rylands the chance to move just a point behind Hednesford at the top.

As for Whitby, they’re now six without a win, but have battled to draws against sides in and around the top five over the last month.

And finally, with Gainsborough Trinity’s game against Bamber Bridge falling victim to the weather, Stockton Town had a big opportunity to climb back into the top five with their game in hand over the Holy Blues.

Unfortunately, neither they nor Leek Town were able to break the deadlock at Harrison Park, leaving the Anchors two points adrift of the play-offs.

Saturday’s only other scheduled game saw Guiseley’s trip to Cleethorpes Town postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 

Results - Saturday 28 February

• Cleethorpes Town P-P Guiseley
• FC United of Manchester 4-0 Stocksbridge Park Steels
• Gainsborough Trinity P-P Bamber Bridge
• Ilkeston Town 3-2 Hebburn Town
• Leek Town 0-0 Stockton Town
• Morpeth Town 1-1 Ashton United
• Prescot Cables 0-4 Lancaster City
• Warrington Town 2-1 Hyde United
• Whitby Town 1-1 Warrington Rylands
• Workington 1-0 Rushall Olympic

Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.