NPL round-up | Owls remain top after stoppage-time equaliser as Alfreton and Gainsborough win comfortably

After Yellows defender Alex McNally had given the hosts the lead in the 63rd minute with his second goal of the season, the visitors then had to wait until the 91st minute to break the deadlock courtesy of a Nathan Newall corner that flew straight into the net without any further contact. 

It was a goal that means Craig Rouse’s side sit above the Yellows in first on goal difference, with both having picked up seven points from their opening three games.

Also riding the momentum of a hugely positive start are Step 3 newcomers Bury, who also unbeaten in three, with seven points from a possible nine to show for it, after edging out Warrington Rylands 1-0 at Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane. 

Shakers forward DJ Pedro scored the only goal of the game in the 31st minute to open his account for the season, guiding home a header from a brilliant Kai Evans cross. 

The only sour note during the game for Bury saw Pedro shown a red car for dissent in stoppage time as the hosts looked to close out victory.

The same can be said for last season’s NPL East Division champions Redcar Athletic, who increased their tally to five points and zero defeats with a battling 1-1 draw at Quorn. 

Mason Frizelle broke the deadlock for Quorn in the 74th minute, before the experienced Adam Boyes levelled for the Steelmen six minutes later in a 1-1 draw. Still, it was enough to see the hosts pick up their first point of the campaign. 

Despite a brilliant start that saw them beat both Quorn and Bamber Bridge, fellow promoted side Avro suffered their first loss of the season after a ruthless Alfreton Town display at the Solana Stadium. 

Polish winger Jakub Kruszynski bagged a goal in each half, while fellow new signing Daniel Odunaiya opened his season’s account with a strike right before Kruszynski’s second to leave the hosts sitting sixth following consecutive wins, their latest by a 3-0 margin. 

There were also comprehensive victories for Gainsborough Trinity and Whitby Town, who inflicted 3-0 and 2-0 defeats on FC United of Manchester and Ilkeston Town respectively. 

It was another humbling defeat for Mark Beesley’s Reds as Fraser Preston, Theo Williams and George Hornshaw bagged the visitors' goals at Broadhurst Park. 

It has been a somewhat surprising start for FC United given many tipped them as favourites for the title. They now sit rooted to the bottom of the table with one point from their opening three fixtures. 

As for Lee Bullock’s Whitby Town side, they secured another valuable victory at the Towbar Express Stadium thanks to a Joey Phuthi strike and a Stuart Rose penalty in the 67th minute to seal three points against Ilkeston Town and consign the Robins to their first defeat of the campaign. 

Over at Irongate, Bamber Bridge bounced back from a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Avro last time out by earning a crucial 1-0 win against Ashton United. 

Frenchman Emerich Poilly scored the only goal with a clinical finish into the bottom right corner late on, giving Jamie Milligan’s side their first points of the season to climb out of the drop zone.

Elsewhere, in another close contest at the Giant Axe, hosts Lancaster City were edged out 2-1 by Hyde United.

James Kirby’s 51st minute strike for Hyde cancelled out Sam Bailey’s equaliser from the spot a matter of minutes earlier as the Tigers triumphed 2-1 on the road.

Taylor McMahon, who recently signed a new deal with the club, had earlier scored the opening goal in the 39th minute when his sliding shot went underneath Dolly Blues goalkeeper Brad Kelly. 

Having held a 2-0 lead with around 20 minutes to play at Workington, Guiseley will be hugely disappointed to have left the Fibrus Community Stadium with only a point after Billy Barr’s side fought to the bitter end to clinch a 2-2 draw. 

An Aaron Martin header and Cam Wilson’s effort gave the Lions a decent cushion at half-time. However, Matthew Douglas reduced the arrears midway through the second half then Luke Hunter struck late on to ensure the spoils were shared, giving Workington their first point of the 2026/27 campaign.

At the MAP Group UK Stadium, hosts Stockton Town played out a 1-1 draw with Leek Town. 

Josh Scott opened the scoring with a penalty in the 12th minute, before Adam Porter drew the visitors level with a great strike 10  minutes before half-time. 

Substitute Alex Hurst was sent off for Leek midway through the second half, however neither side was able to find the all-important breakthrough. 

Josh Brehaut’s side sit just above the relegation zone with two points, while Michael Dunwell’s Stockton are a place below in 19th after securing their first point of the season.

Finally, the opening game of the weekend on Friday night saw Emley pick up their first three points of the season, after first-half goals from summer signing Diego De Girolamo and Charlie Barks saw them to a 2-1 win at home to Curzon Ashton. 

Brad Holmes pulled one back in second-half stoppage time for Curzon, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling to their second defeat of the week. 

Results - Friday 14 August

• Emley 2-1 Curzon Ashton

Results - Saturday 15 August

• Alfreton Town 3-0 Avro
• Bamber Bridge 1-0 Ashton United
• Bury 1-0 Warrington Rylands
• FC United 0-3 Manchester vs Gainsborough Trinity
• Lancaster City 1-2 Hyde United
• Quorn 1-1 Redcar Athletic
• Stockton Town 1-1 Leek Town
• Warrington Town 1-1 Cleethorpes Town
• Whitby Town 2-0 Ilkeston Town
• Workington 2-2 Guiseley

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