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State of play | NPL Premier Division relegation battle

As we head into the final three weeks of the campaign, no side in the Northern Premier League’s top division has been relegated.

This highlights how tight the fight to stay at Step 3 has been all year.

Throughout 2026, there have been mini-revivals at numerous clubs that many felt were dead and buried. At the turn of the year, Workington were nine points adrift of safety; now safety is in their own hands.

Similarly, Hyde United had won just one in 20 and had just been beaten by Workington on March 21. It looked like the writing was on the wall for the Tigers, before they picked up seven points out of the last nine available to remain above the drop.

Morpeth Town had gone seven without a win before their current run of three wins in five, and Rushall Olympic had gone winless in eight before a massive Easter Monday win over Ilkeston Town.

Teams are hitting form at just the right time, and it’s difficult to pick out the three sides who will ultimately succumb to relegation come the end of the month.

With six points separating 15th from 21st and just three games remaining for all seven sides, here’s how the run-in looks for each of the current relegation contenders.

21st: Stocksbridge Park Steels

Points: 35

Goal difference: -24

Propping up the table currently are Stocksbridge Park Steels, who could have their fate sealed as early as this weekend.

Last season’s East Division play-off winners have been in touch with getting out of the drop zone all year, but every time they got close, results elsewhere or a poor run of form saw them cut further adrift.

This was amplified this past weekend, when their one-point gap was opened up to five, and defeat away at promotion contenders Warrington Rylands this Saturday could see them down, if other results don’t go their way.

After that, they take on Ilkeston Town in their final home game of the campaign, before travelling to Lancaster City on the final day, and Jordan Lemon will be hoping that those two sides have nothing to play for then, to enable them to try and mount a great escape.

Remaining games:

Warrington Rylands (A) - 11/4
Ilkeston Town (H) - 18/4
Lancaster City (A) - 25/4

20th: Prescot Cables

Points: 36

Goal difference: -12

Prescot Cables head into the final weeks of the campaign in the worst form out of the seven sides battling relegation, with a current winless run of 11 games.

They had to sit and watch as the four sides directly above them all picked up points on Easter Monday while they had a bye game, meaning that Ste Daley’s side are now four points adrift of safety.

Their game at Leek Town, who now have nothing to play for in terms of promotion or relegation, is a must-win. Not only to end their winless run, but to ensure that their trip to Gainsborough Trinity the following week isn’t one they necessarily have to win, as the Holy Blues will need the points in their play-off race and will likely be on top of their game.

Then, a home match-up against an out-of-form Bamber Bridge, who will likely have nothing to play for on the final day, would present a good opportunity to pick up maximum points to climb out of the drop zone right at the death.

Remaining games:

Leek Town (A) - 11/4
Gainsborough Trinity (A) - 18/4
Bamber Bridge (H) - 25/4

19th: Morpeth Town

Points: 39

Goal difference: -13

Morpeth Town head into the final weeks of the campaign still in the drop zone, but having won three of their last five, the latter of which was against Whitby Town, to ensure they pulled the Seasiders right into this relegation scrap.

Unfortunately for Craig Lynch, the Highwaymen have the worst away record in the division, picking up just nine points and losing 13 of their 18 games on the road, and their next two are both away from Craik Park.

They’ll see a final day home clash against Warrington Town as a big opportunity to pick up all three points, but they’ll need to make sure that they aren’t cut adrift by then by getting some rare positive results away from home.

Hednesford Town this weekend will be an uphill struggle, but that match-up on the penultimate weekend against Rushall Olympic, who are just two points above Morpeth in this relegation scrap, has the potential to make or break either of their seasons.

Remaining games:

Hednesford Town (A) - 11/4
Rushall Olympic (A) - 18/4
Warrington Town (H) - 25/4

18th: Workington

Points: 40

Goal difference: -14

It has been a miraculous turnaround for Billy Barr’s Workington in 2026.

Since February, the Reds have won six and lost just one of their 10 games, and what looked like a campaign destined to end in relegation may see them staying up comfortably.

That’s what they would have hoped after they finally escaped the drop zone after a big 3-0 win over Hednesford to close out March, but just one point in the two games across the Easter weekend has dragged them right back into the relegation mix.

Workington will need to be fully focused to get the job done. Luckily for them, they don’t have the hardest match-ups on paper, with Ashton United, Warrington Town and Leek Town all with little to nothing to play for between now and the end of the season.

Remaining games:

Ashton United (A) - 11/4
Warrington Town (A) - 18/4
Leek Town (H) - 25/4

17th: Hyde United

Points: 40
Goal difference: -8

Hyde have picked up seven massive points in their last three games, and have the momentum going into the final three weeks - momentum that they have to capitalise on against an out-of-sorts Whitby this weekend.

Not only would that see them move two points ahead of the Seasiders, but it would give them a nice cushion going into two very difficult games against FC United of Manchester and Gainsborough, who will both have title hopes or a play-off place to fight for when the game comes around.

Like Morpeth though, Hyde’s away form hasn’t been the best this season.

Michael Clegg’s side haven’t won on their travels since the end of October, so they’ll be keen to end that run at some point in the next couple of weeks.

Remaining games:

Whitby Town (A) - 11/4
FC United of Manchester (A) - 18/4
Gainsborough Trinity (H) - 25/4

16th: Rushall Olympic

Points: 41

Goal difference: -14

We’ve already touched on how important Rushall’s 2-0 win over Ilkeston on Easter Monday was, as defeat there would have actually seen them in the drop zone, rather than where they are now, two points ahead.

It’s also been mentioned how massive that penultimate game of the campaign is against Morpeth at Dales Lane, as three points there would all but confirm their safety, unless Craig Lynch’s side win both of their other games at Hednesford and against Warrington Town.

With that game sandwiched in between lengthy trips to the North East to take on Stockton Town, who are in the play-off hunt, and current league leaders Hebburn Town on the final day, they’ll hope that three points against Morpeth would be enough, even with defeats in those two.

Remaining games:

Stockton Town (A) - 11/4
Morpeth Town (H) - 18/4
Hebburn Town (A) - 25/4

15th: Whitby Town

Points: 41

Goal difference: -11

Instantly, given that Whitby are the only side out of the seven to have two home games in their final three, you’d think they’d have an advantage.

However, the Seasiders have actually picked up more points on their travels than they have at the Towbar Express Stadium this season.

Five defeats in their last six have them looking nervously over their shoulders, but a win on Saturday against Hyde would all but secure their survival, as they’d move four points ahead of Michael Clegg’s side with two games remaining.

Those two games see them head to Leek, who we’ve established have nothing to play for, before hosting Cleethorpes on the final day, who will likely have seen a play-off place move out of their reach by then.

A defeat against Hyde, though, would increase the nerves, and the two games that follow would take on greater importance if the Seasiders are to retain their Premier Division status for a 28th consecutive season.

Remaining games: