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NPL round-up | Stockton end Hebburn’s winning run, five-star Ilkeston bounce back and spoils shared in Warrington derby

Thirty goals were scored in the eight NPL Premier Division fixtures on Boxing Day, in what was truly an entertaining, exciting afternoon of festive football.

The pace was set for the day immediately, as Stockton Town put in one of their performances of the season to not only win their north-east derby against Hebburn Town 4-1, but in-turn ended the Hornets’ nine-game winning run.

Liam Murray gave Daniel Moore’s side an early lead, but the Anchors would score four unanswered goals to secure a vital three points.

It means that Hebburn missed the chance to go top of the table, with league leaders Hednesford Town not in action until Saturday.

There were some impressive results down at the bottom end of the division.

First, Ilkeston Town, who had gone six games without winning and scored just once during that run, found the net five times against Rushall Olympic to end their winless streak in style.

Jordan Stevens set up all three of Ilkeston’s first-half goals, and then his cutback found L’Varn Brandy to make it 4-0 and secure the points on 73 minutes.

Rushall did get one back shortly after, but Dylan Youmbi restored their four-goal cushion as the Robins moved up to 14th and condemned Rushall to a place in the relegation zone.

Ian Long’s side fell to 19th after Morpeth Town’s first win on their travels at their eleventh attempt, as they ran out 2-1 winners at Whitby Town.

All three goals came in the first half. Aaron Chungh’s opener for the Highwaymen was cancelled out by Donald Chimalilo, before Joel Holvey restored Morpeth’s lead five minutes before the break.

Morpeth rose out of the drop zone with the win and are now just two points and two places behind Whitby, who will end the year 13th in the table.

Stocksbridge Park Steels also prevailed away from home, beating Leek Town 2-1 in front of the ClubberTV cameras.

Jordan Lemon’s side did so in dramatic fashion too, as Kurtis Turner scored in second-half stoppage time to take all three points back to South Yorkshire.

Stocksbridge are now just two points behind Leek, who occupy the final place above the relegation zone having now lost each of their last three.

Elsewhere, Stockton’s win against Hebburn saw them climb into the top five and in-turn leapfrog Lancaster City, who lost for the third straight game, this time at home to Bamber Bridge.

Dom Lawson gave the hosts the lead, but they found themselves behind at the break thanks to goals from Nathaniel Knight-Percival and Olly Malloy.

Jamie Allen found the back of the net late on to wrap up the three points as the Brig moved just four points behind Lancaster, off the back of a fourth win in five games.

Meanwhile, a five-goal thriller at Nethermoor was won by Guiseley, as Ian Richards’ side ended a two-game losing run at home to Gainsborough Trinity.

With the scores level at 1-1 going into the final 15 minutes, those in attendance were treated to a grandstand finish.

Jordan Thewlis’ second goal of the game was immediately cancelled out by Frank Mulhern soon after, but Jake Lawlor’s header four minutes from time gave the hosts the lead once more, and they held on to secure the win.

The Warrington derby ended in a stalemate, as the two sides shared second-half goals in a 1-1 draw in front of a sold-out Gorsey Lane.

Joe Rodwell-Grant headed the Yellows in front, but Neil Reynolds’ side answered back nine minutes later through Harrison Wood’s superb long-range strike, to keep their neighbours at arm's length in the table.

And another derby ended in a stalemate as Ashton United shared the points with Hyde United in another 1-1 draw.

It was the hosts who cancelled out an opener from the away side once more, but it was done dramatically.

Hyde thought they’d won it when Ben Kershaw netted on 89 minutes, but Charlie Hayes-Green equalised in stoppage time to ensure that Hyde’s winless run extended to seven games.

Ashton’s and Gainsborough’s dropped points opened the door to Cleethorpes Town, who rose to ninth in the table after goals in either half saw them to a 2-1 home win over basement side Workington.

Workington will end the calendar year nine points from safety after goals from Brad Abbott and Billy Whitehouse stretched their winless run to seven matches.

Also on Saturday, league leaders Hednesford Town were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow promotion contenders FC United of Manchester at Keys Park.

Dom McHale had given the hosts the lead shortly before half-time, in front of a bumper club-record Keys Park crowd of 4,784.

But FC United responded before the hour mark as Ruben Grewal fired home a leveller from the angle, meaning FC United took a share of the spoils on the road.

Results - Friday 26 December