NPL round-up | New Year's football

That game fell foul of the conditions as a waterlogged Broadhurst Park pitch meant the Boro would not have the chance to build on their 3-0 win at home to Bradford Park Avenue on Boxing Day.

Their cushion at the top would remain in-tact, however, as Warrington Rylands fell to a 3-2 home defeat against Macclesfield on New Year's Day.

In front of a season-high crowd of over 1,100 at the Hive Arena, Rylands fought back from two goals down but failed to earn a point for their efforts as a hat-trick from Silkmen forward John Rooney - younger brother of former Manchester United and England legend Wayne - was enough to see the visitors strengthen their play-off position.

Macclesfield are one of a trio of teams just three points adrift of Rylands in the fight for second.

Third-placed Worksop Town missed the chance to leapfrog the Blues after falling to a surprise 2-0 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity on Monday.

Goals in either half from Lewis Butroid and Fraser Preston were enough to see the Holy Blues pick up their first win in eight league games and move further clear of relegation trouble.

Meanwhile, Whitby Town climbed into the top five thanks to a 3-0 home win over Ilkeston Town.

All three of the Seasiders' goals came in the second half, with Junior Mondal one of the players on the scoresheet as he took his tally for the season to 13 goals.

They climbed above Marine, who were beaten 2-1 at Basford United.

Nevertheless, goals from Kieran Fenton and Nathan Tyson weren't enough to see the Lions climb out of the bottom four.

Elsewhere, local rivals Hyde United and Ashton United lost ground on the top five after playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Project Solar Stadium.

The Robins were indebted to a stoppage-time equaliser from Jake Charles - his second goal of the game - to rescue a point on their travels.

Guiseley made it three wins from the last five as a stunning strike from Reece Kendall midway through the first half was enough to see them past Bradford Park Avenue at the Horsfall Stadium.

Morpeth Town were 2-0 winners on the road at Marske United, while Stafford Rangers' mini-resurgence under the recently-appointed Dave Cooke continued as they made it back-to-back victories with a 3-1 triumph at Matlock Town, who remain in the top half of the division.

That result on December 30 was enough to see Rangers climb off the foot of the table above Atherton Collieries.

In a quite remarkable game at Lancaster City, Colls came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the final 20 minutes, only for Jacob Wilkinson and Nic Evangelinos to strike at the death to turn the game on its head and ensure it would be the Dolly Blues walking away from the Giant Axe with all three points.

The final game over New Year saw the points shared between Workington and Bamber Bridge.

The Brig came from two goals down, cancelling out David Symington's brace to salvage themselves a point.

Results - Saturday 30 December / Monday 1 January

Basford United 2-1 Marine
Bradford Park Avenue 0-1 Guiseley
FC United of Manchester P-P Radcliffe
Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 Worksop Town
Hyde United 2-2 Ashton United
Lancaster City 3-2 Atherton Collieries
Marske United 0-2 Morpeth Town
Matlock Town 1-3 Stafford Rangers
Warrington Rylands 2-3 Macclesfield
Whitby Town 3-0 Ilkeston Town
Workington 2-2 Bamber Bridge

Click here for the latest results from the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.

Photo credit: Michael Porter