Matchman wrote:

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Ilkeston face Leek  on the back of three games unbeaten and three clean sheets
Sat 17 January.   Lancaster         (H)  won  3-0. 
Tue 20 January   Alfreton (DSC)  (H)  draw 0-0 
Sat  24 January   Cleethorpes      (A)  draw 0-0

Well that certainly makes a change and well done but can we keep it going .


 

Leek are in danger because they are only 3 points ahead of Hyde who occupy the final relegation position. And Hyde have played a game less than them. Prescot have now moved above Leek following their midweek win over Rylands. Morpeth are one point below Leek having played the same games 

                           Played    Points
14  Prescot           26            31
15. Whitby            25            31
16. Rushall           25            30
17. Leek               26            29
18. Morpeth          26            28
------------------------------------------
19  Hyde               25            26
20  Stocksbridge   26            25
21. Workington      26.           18

 

Leek Town’s match preview

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/teams/17802/match-centre/1-17652803

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Leek were promoted as Champions of the NPL West at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Since then Leek and Ilkeston have met 3 times and the result has been an away win on each occasion.

Season 2024-25
21 Sep 24   Leek 1 Ilkeston 3.         own goal, Cursons, Brandy
04 Jan 25.  Ilkeston 0 Leek 2

Season 2025-26
20 Sep 25.  Leek 1 Ilkeston 2          Kirby-Moore, Walker
31 Jan  26.  Ilkeston ? Leek ?


 

Last edited by Matchman (Yesterday 10:55 AM)

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Preview of this weekend’s NPL matches

The second half of the campaign is in full swing, and sides across the NPL Premier Division will be aiming to end January on a positive note.

Table-topping Hebburn Town will hope to make it 13 wins in 14 games when they host relegation-threatened Stocksbridge Park Steels. Stocksbridge have alternated between wins and losses in their last four games, and having fallen to defeat last time out, they’ll be keen to bounce back again.  However, they face a tough task in doing so against a Hornets side who have been ruthless in their pursuit of top spot, and are keen to keep hold of it. 
Looking to usurp Hebburn if they do slip up are Hednesford Town, who themselves have a trickier task on paper in their pursuit of a third straight win, as they travel to Gainsborough Trinity. Postponements in the last week increased the number of games in hand that Russ Wilcox’s side have on the rest of the division. Now, they’re five points off the play-offs, but having played as many as four games fewer than the teams currently occupying a top-five spot.  A win against the side currently in second place would ensure they stay within touching distance to capitalise when the games come around and put themselves firmly in the promotion picture. 
FC United of Manchester are looking to keep in touch with the top two and bounce back from a disappointing defeat last time out at Morpeth Town. This weekend, they travel to Rushall Olympic. The Pics haven’t been able to put a string of league victories together since a three-game winning run in August. After picking up a big three points last weekend against Hyde United, they’ll be hoping to finally create another winning streak, in-turn extending FC United’s winless run to four. 
Speaking of Hyde, Michael Clegg takes charge of his first game at Ewen Fields against a Warrington Rylands side who have lost each of their last two games. Neil Reynolds' side were well beaten in midweek by Prescot Cables, and Hyde will be looking to compound their misery and put an end to their 11-game winless run. That win could see the Tigers climb out of the drop zone, but only if Morpeth fail to pick up points at home to Guiseley. The Highwaymen have been solid at Craik Park for a few months now, winning six of the last nine league games in front of their home fans. 
There have been few worries about being dragged into a relegation scrap at Guiseley under Ian Richards. However, a win for Morpeth here would cut the gap between the two sides to just one point. Just below Guiseley are Cleethorpes Town, who may also be looking slightly over their shoulders if they fall to defeat away at Stockton Town. 
After picking up just one point in their last two games, the Anchors will be looking to get back to winning ways and strengthen their grip on the final play-off spot, especially given that they know one of the two sides below them could be making up points. Indeed, sixth-placed Warrington Town host seventh-placed Bamber Bridge, and a win for Paul Carden’s side could see them climb into the play-offs if results elsewhere go their way. No side in the division is on a longer unbeaten run than Warrington, who have gone seven games since they last fell to defeat. But after six wins in eight, the Brig are keen to keep their own momentum going and cut the gap between themselves and the top five. With four points currently separating Bamber Bridge and Stockton, Jamie Milligan’s side can’t climb into the play-offs this weekend, but their chances can be bolstered significantly if they pick up a third straight win. And in another match-up between two sides on the periphery of the play-offs, Lancaster City host Ashton United. A two-week break came at a perfect time for Lancaster, who needed to regroup after picking up just one point in their last five games and falling out of the top five altogether as a result. The Dolly Blues are now level on points with Steve Cunningham’s side, and both will be looking for a big three points to stay in touch with the teams above Towards the bottom, Prescot Cables will be looking to build on their impressive win over Warrington Rylands as they take on basement club Workington. The Reds are 10 points removed from safety, having not won since early November, and need all the points they can get to mount a great escape in the final few months of the campaign. As for Ste Daley’s side, they can go as many as eight points clear of the drop zone with a win. 
And Leek Town will also be looking to keep their distance between themselves and the relegation zone as they travel to Ilkeston Town. Ian Deakin’s side have been on top form since they flirted with the drop in mid-December, losing just one of their last seven games. Leek, on the other hand, have won just one of their last eight in the league, but will hope to make it two wins in four this weekend. All games will kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise. 

Fixtures - Saturday 31 January 

• Gainsborough Trinity vs Hednesford Town
• Hebburn Town vs Stocksbridge Park Steels
• Hyde United vs Warrington Rylands
• Ilkeston Town vs Leek Town
• Lancaster City vs Ashton United
• Morpeth Town vs Guiseley
• Prescot Cables vs Workington
• Rushall Olympic vs FC United of Manchester
• Stockton Town vs Cleethorpes Town
• Warrington Town vs Bamber Bridge

Hebburn match called off

UPDATES 15:00
SURPRISINGLY FEW POSTPONEMENTS THAT WE KNOW OF!

League One
Burton Albion 0 Cardiff City 0
Mansfield Town 0 Wycombe Wanderers 0
 
League Two
Chesterfield 0 Walsall 0
Fleetwood Town 0 Notts County 0
 
National League North
Buxton 0 Spennymoor Town 0
Kings Lynn Town 0 Alfreton Town 0
Scarborough Athletic 0 Worksop Town 0
 
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Gainsborough Trinity 0 Hednesford Town 0
Hebburn Town P Stocksbridge Park Steels P
Hyde United 0 Warrington Rylands 0
Ilkeston Town 0 Leek Town 0
Lancaster City 0 Ashton United 0
Morpeth Town 0 Guiseley 0
Prescot Cables 0 Workington 0
Rushall Olympic 0 FC United of Manchester 0
Stockton Town 0 Cleethorpes Town 0
Warrington Town 0 Bamber Bridge 0
 
Northern Premier League East Division
Blyth Town 0 Ashington 0
Hallam 0 Matlock Town
Heaton Stannington P Blyth Spartans P
 
Northern Premier League Midland Division
Bedworth United 0 Long Eaton United 0
Belper Town 0 Coleshill Town 0
Mickleover 0 Corby Town 0
Rugby Town 0 Basford United 0
Shepshed Dynamo 0 Anstey Nomads 0
Wellingborough Town 0 Carlton Town 0
 
Northern League Division One
Newcastle Benfield 0 Marske United 0
Shilden 0 North Shields 0
Thornaby 0 Whitley Bay 0
 
United Counties League Premier Division North
AFC Mansfield 0 Ashby Ivanhoe 0
Clay Cross Town P Newark Town P
Gresley Rovers 0 Deeping Rangers 0
Hucknall Town 0 Eastwood Community 0
Kimberley MW 0 Harrowby United 0
Melton Town 0 Grantham Town 0
Newark & Sherwood United P Blackstones P
Sherwood Colliery 0 Boston Town 0
Skegness Town 0 Heanor Town 0
Wisbech Town 0 Belper United 0
 
Northern League Division Two
Billingham Town 0 AFC Newbiggin 0
Boldon CA 0 Alnwick Town 0
Seaham Red Star P Newcastle University P
 

Ilkeston find the net but it’s ruled out. Header hit the post and went in. Anyway it’s not a goal.  

Sam Parker power shot is saved at second attempt by Visser.  Leek win a corner from their first attack but Roberts collects. Youmbi dribbles his way into the Leek area and wins a corner. Visser has it.       0-0.    11 mins

UPDATES 15:20
 
League One
Burton Albion 1 Cardiff City 0
Mansfield Town 0 Wycombe Wanderers 0
 
League Two
Chesterfield 1 Walsall 0
Fleetwood Town 0 Notts County 0
 
National League North
Buxton 0 Spennymoor Town 0
Kings Lynn Town 0 Alfreton Town 0
Scarborough Athletic 0 Worksop Town 0
 
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Gainsborough Trinity 0 Hednesford Town 0
Hyde United 0 Warrington Rylands 0
Ilkeston Town 0 Leek Town 1
Lancaster City 1 Ashton United 0
Morpeth Town 0 Guiseley 1
Prescot Cables 0 Workington1
Rushall Olympic 0 FC United of Manchester 0
Stockton Town 0 Cleethorpes Town 0
Warrington Town 0 Bamber Bridge 0
 
Northern Premier League East Division
Blyth Town 0 Ashington 0
Hallam 0 Matlock Town
 
Northern Premier League Midland Division
Bedworth United 0 Long Eaton United 0
Belper Town 0 Coleshill Town 0
Mickleover 0 Corby Town 0
Rugby Town 0 Basford United 1
Shepshed Dynamo 0 Anstey Nomads 0
Wellingborough Town 0 Carlton Town 0
 
Northern League Division One
Newcastle Benfield 0 Marske United 0
Shilden 0 North Shields 0
Thornaby 0 Whitley Bay 0
 
United Counties League Premier Division North
AFC Mansfield 2 Ashby Ivanhoe 0
Clay Cross Town P Newark Town P
Gresley Rovers 0 Deeping Rangers 0
Hucknall Town 0 Eastwood Community 0
Kimberley MW 0 Harrowby United 1
Melton Town 0 Grantham Town 0
Sherwood Colliery 0 Boston Town 0
Skegness Town 1 Heanor Town 0
Wisbech Town 0 Belper United 0
 
Northern League Division Two
Billingham Town 0 AFC Newbiggin 0
Boldon CA 0 Alnwick Town 2

What a close range save by Visser.  We survive a Leek counter led by that man Owalabi. 
It’s 2-0 Leek from another counter attack  They’re so dangerous on the break.        0-2.     30 mins