NPL round-up | Hednesford reclaim top spot as bottom two sides pick up big wins

The Pitmen blew past play-off hopefuls Lancaster City, netting three without reply in the opening half-hour to put an end to their four-game winless run.

Hednesford were able to leapfrog Hebburn Town to reclaim top spot, after the Hornets drew for a fourth straight game, this time at Leek Town, as their meeting at Harrison Park ended goalless.

Down at the bottom, there were massive wins for the sides who began the afternoon in the bottom two.

First, basement club Workington picked up a second win in three games against fellow relegation zone dwellers Morpeth Town.

Despite being down to 10 men with the scores level, Billy Barr’s side found the only goal of the game, which was scored by Luke Hunter two minutes from time.

The Reds remain bottom but are now just six points adrift from safety, as their great escape looks to continue into the final 10 games of the campaign.

Morpeth have now fallen a place in the table after Stocksbridge Park Steels picked up a huge win - just their third at home this season - against Prescot Cables in another six-pointer towards the bottom.

Park Steels won 2-1 thanks to goals from James Morris and Thomas Marshall, either side of Tony Donaldson’s effort, to pull themselves to within two points of their visitors.

Back towards the top, Gainsborough Trinity were pegged back in the second half by Adam Le Fondre, as FC United of Manchester ensured that Russ Wilcox’s side had to share the spoils in their clash at Broadhurst Park.

Mark Beesley’s side did lose ground on top spot, now sitting four points behind Hednesford, but they remain five points ahead of their visitors, albeit with Gainsborough still holding a game in hand.

The Holy Blues saw the gap between themselves and the top five open up slightly, though, as both Warrington Rylands and Stockton Town were victorious this weekend.

Rylands won for the second straight weekend at home against Ilkeston Town, with goals from Ben Hardcastle, Harrison Wood and Paddy Gamble giving Neil Reynolds side a healthy three-goal lead with 20 minutes remaining.

The Robins threatened a slight comeback five minutes later through Daniel Odunaiya but were unable to add to their tally, meaning Rylands increased the gap between themselves and Gainsborough to five points.

And Stockton left Hurst Cross with all three points, after a Kevin Hayes brace turned a half-time deficit on its head in the second half. The Anchors have now opened up a three-point gap on sixth place.

Bamber Bridge were unable to keep pace and climb above Gainsborough, though, after they were held at home by Whitby Town.

Both goals at the SFC Stadium came inside 12 minutes, Matty Tymon cancelling out Jamie Allen’s opener to secure a much-needed point for the Seasiders, who climbed up to 16th after Saturday's result.

Elsewhere, Guiseley returned to winning ways emphatically after a 4-0 victory over Warrington Town at Nethermoor.

The hosts raced out to a three-goal lead inside the opening 24 minutes, and Jordan Thewlis got in on the goalscoring action in the second half to put the icing on an impressive victory.

The Yellows have now lost four of their last five, and are now closer to the drop zone than they are to the top five.

Finally, both Cleethorpes Town and Rushall Olympic moved a point closer to safety after their match ended goalless.

Results - Saturday 21 February

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

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