NPL preview | Saturday 14 October

League leaders Radcliffe will be hoping to extend the gap at the top of the table as they welcome fourth-placed Ilkeston Town to the Neuven Stadium.

Should they win, the home side will reach a remarkable 30 points with only 11 matches played.

The team closest to hunting them down is Warrington Rylands, who boast an impressive record of seven wins and only one loss from their opening 10 fixtures. They travel to Gainsborough Trinity, who sit 17th and are starting to find form, having won two of their last three matches in the league.

Towards the bottom of the table, Marske United host Basford United as 22nd takes on 20th, with both seeking to earn crucial points after tough respective starts to the campaign.

Matlock Town and Workington have proven they know how to score goals in the early stages of the season, and they meet this Sunday when the Reds travel to the Proctor Cars Stadium. A win could see the visitors climb as high as third, depending on the outcome of the day’s other matches.

FC United of Manchester could edge closer to the top five with a win this weekend. Standing in their way is a Morpeth Town side that are winless in their last five matches in all competitions, having won four in a row before then.

Elsewhere, Stafford Rangers travel to Guiseley as they search for a win that would move them out of the relegation zone. However, Paul Phillips’ side will be tough customers, having only lost one league game of their last six games in all competitions.

Finally, Nick Spooner will hope to see his Hyde United side make it four consecutive league wins when they travel to 18th-placed Bradford Park Avenue, who have failed to win any of their last five Northern Premier League matches and sit perilously close to the bottom four.

All fixtures will take place on Saturday 14 October, unless stated otherwise.

Fixtures - Saturday 14 October

Bradford Park Avenue v Hyde United
FC United of Manchester v Morpeth Town
Gainsborough Trinity v Warrington Rylands
Guiseley vs Stafford Rangers
Marske United v Basford United
Matlock Town v Workington AFC
Radcliffe v Ilkeston Town