cant get to the game and i might not even have chance to check on here , got a busy Sat .  Work till 12 , then got a plumber coming round , then my daughter is coming round with the grand kids , then get ready for my dads 90th birthday bash later . Phew . Dont need a hour less Sat night i need a hour more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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With Macclesfield confirmed as Northern Premier League champions, attention now switches to who will make the play-offs, and the sides bidding to avoid relegation at the other end of the table.
by JDG Media 

The only two teams whose fate has already been confirmed, Macclesfield and Blyth Spartans, will face off in the north-east. Spartans' dismal season could end with an unwanted record of achieving the lowest points tally of any side relegated from the NPL's top division in the last 10 years. Skelmersdale United's tally of 24 points in 2016/17 currently holds that record, and in order to level their haul, Michael Connor's side will need to pick up six points from their remaining six games - despite having won just three times in the league all season. Macclesfield, meanwhile, need 14 points from their remaining six games to surpass the Northern Premier League record for total points in a season, set by Darlington in 2015/16. 
Second-placed Worksop Town could mathematically secure their play-off place this weekend, but only if they beat Lancaster City at home and Ilkeston Town fall to defeat against Warrington Rylands. Craig Parry's Tigers are the form side in the division right now and will be looking for a ninth straight league win on Saturday, against a Lancaster side just five points above the relegation zone after a poor run which has yielded just one win in their last six matches. Like Worksop, Guiseley remain in pole position to finish in the top five. And this weekend, the Lions host a Matlock Town side that will be looking to climb out of the bottom four with a win, having claimed a 2-0 victory at home to Blyth last time out in Adam Clayton's first game at the helm. 
Of the other sides in the top five, Stockton Town visit FC United of Manchester while Ashton United are at home to Hebburn Town. Both of their opponents are languishing towards a mid-table finish, although FC United will be hoping to put an end to their two-game losing slump at Broadhurst Park. With just one defeat in their last 11 league games, Gainsborough Trinity will be keen to keep their recent good form going, having defeated Whitby Town 2-1 on Tuesday night in a rearranged fixture. The Holy Blues visit Bamber Bridge, who are one a cluster of sides still in the relegation picture. Nevertheless, the Brig's home form has been good of late, and they will go in search of a third win in four at the SFC Stadium this weekend. Morpeth Town remain in with a slim chance of reaching the play-offs but know they can ill-afford to drop any points in their final six fixtures. This weekend they host Leek Town, who will be looking to record a third successive win on their travels. 
In the weekend's other games, mid-table Hyde United visit a Whitby side perched just a point and a place above the bottom four. And third-bottom Basford United visit Prescot Cables, whose safety in the division looks all-but-assured. Cables have won six of their last seven at home, while Basford's last league win on the road came against Blyth on September 28. 

Fixtures - Saturday 29 March 

• Ashton United vs Hebburn Town
• Bamber Bridge vs Gainsborough Trinity
• Blyth Spartans vs Macclesfield
• FC United of Manchester vs Stockton Town
• Guiseley vs Matlock Town
• Ilkeston Town vs Warrington Rylands
• Morpeth Town vs Leek Town
• Prescot Cables vs Basford United
• Whitby Town vs Hyde United
• Workington vs Mickleover
• Worksop Town vs Lancaster City

Last edited by Matchman (28/3/2025 11:02 PM)

No Matchman today so updates on the action from the NMG will unless fans at the game can post on here, be pinched, borrowed from various social media outlets. Scores updates should be as per usual and nearly up to date as usual.
If Ilkeston win today and teams above them drop points the play offs hopes may be rekindled!

Ashton 0-1 Hebburn 

Ashton 1-1 Hebburn
Guiesley 0-1 Matlock
Blyth 0-1 Macclesfield
FC Utd 0-1 Stockton

Last edited by kevilsonlad (29/3/2025 3:19 PM)

Ashton 3-1 Hebburn

One One !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Abdulla 
 

Still five games to go and fifteen points to claim!

Table @17:20        GD  Pts  Poss Pts
1 Macclesfield        +66  94      109
2 Worksop Town    +43 74       89
3 Guiseley              +25  69      84 
4 Stockton Town   +16  65       80
5 Ashton United    +18  63       78
6 Ilkeston Town     +15  58       73  

FINAL SCORES 17:17
 
League One
Bristol Rovers 1 Mansfield Town 2 ft
Stockport County 2 Burton Albion 1 ft
 
League Two
Barrow 0 Chesterfield 1 ft
Newport County 0 Notts County 2 ft
 
National League North
Marine 0 Alfreton Town 0 
Needham Market 1 Buxton 2 ft
 
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Ashton United 5 Hebburn Town 1 ft
Bamber Bridge 1 Gainsborough Trinity 0 ft
Blyth Spartans 0 Macclesfield 5 ft
FC United of Manchester 0 Stockton Town 1 ft
Guiseley 1 Matlock Town 1 ft 
Ilkeston Town 2 Warrington Rylands 1 ft
Morpeth Town 1 Leek Town 1 ft
Prescot Cables 1 Basford United 0 ft
Whitby Town 1 Hyde United 2  ft
Workington 3 Mickleover 0 ft
Worksop Town 4 Lancaster City 1 ft
 
Table @17:20        GD  Pts  Poss Pts
1 Macclesfield        +66  94      109
2 Worksop Town    +43 74       89
3 Guiseley              +25  69       84 
4 Stockton Town   +16  65       80
5 Ashton United    +18  63       78
6 Ilkeston Town     +15  58       73   
 
Northern Premier League East
Ashington 3 Emley 1 ft
Bishop Auckland 0 Belper Town 0 ft
Brighouse Town 1 Sherwood Colliery 4 ft
Grimsby Borough 0 Heaton Stannington  3 ft
North Ferriby 1 Carlton Town 1 ft
 
Northern Premier League Midland
Coleshill Town 1 Anstey Nomads 2 ft
Darlaston Town 0 Quorn 3 ft
Rugby Town 2 Long Eaton United 5 ft
Shepshed Dynamo 1 RC Warwick 1 ft
 
Lowland League
Berwick Rangers 1 Cumbernauld Colts 0 ft
 
Northern League Division One
Carlisle City 4 West Allotment Celtic 0 ft
Crook Town 0 Whitley Bay 3 ft
Kendal Town 0 Newcastle Blue Star 1 ft
North Shields 2 Northallerton Town 0 ft
Northern League Division Two
Billlingham Synthonia 1 Alnwick Town 1 ft
Billlingham Town 3 Newcastle University 2 ft
Prudhoe 0 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 4 ft
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0 Chester-le-Street United 3 ft

Deaks' thoughts ...

https://youtu.be/oYUtPvmXpQE?si=tuOE3DwjN_DyzOkL

And refreshingly honest from Neil Reynolds ...

https://youtu.be/qxHbXgFtogg?si=HrvEwRxHAzm29-Zv

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A ninth successive league win saw in-form Worksop Town mathematically confirm their place in the Northern Premier League play-offs on Saturday. .
The Tigers were impressive 4-1 winners at home to Lancaster City, coming from a goal down to win handsomely after scoring four times in a blistering 20-minute spell. Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs Starcenko continued his rich vein of form with a double, while top scorer Liam Hughes rounded off the scoring with his 18th league goal of the season. Craig Parry's side's quest for promotion continued at the expense of a Lancaster side who have now been dragged a point closer to the bottom four. Nevertheless, the Dolly Blues' fate is in their own hands and four of their final five games come against sides below them in the Northern Premier League table.  
Champions Macclesfield continued their pursuit of a record points tally in the top division of the NPL with a 5-0 win at already-relegated Blyth Spartans. Five different scorers were on target for the Silkmen, who maintained their 20-point advantage at the top of the division. 
In the race for the play-offs, Guiseley saw their grasp on a home play-off tie slip as they were forced to rescue a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Matlock Town. The Gladiators took the lead after 13 minutes and looked on course for all three points, until Jameel Ible netted a stoppage-time equaliser for the hosts. Saturday's point was enough to see Matlock climb out of the bottom four and above Whitby Town, who fell to a late 2-1 home defeat to Hyde United. Hyde captain Jack Redshaw was the hero for his side, firing home four minutes from time to secure maximum points on their travels. 
There were wins for play-off hopefuls Stockton Town and Ashton United as they maintained their respective places in the top five. 


Photo credit: Stockton Town 

A hat-trick from on-loan forward Marcus Carver helped Ashton to a commanding 5-1 home win against Hebburn Town, while Josh Scott scored the only goal for Stockton as they tasted success during their trip to FC United of Manchester. 
Sixth-placed Ilkeston Town came from behind to beat Warrington Rylands 2-1 and keep pace with the top five, although they remain five points adrift. Having fallen behind six minutes after half-time, substitute McKeal Abdullah drew the Robins level before Colin Daniel scored a 95th minute winner to complete the turnaround. 
Morpeth Town are now 10 points adrift of the play-offs with five games to go after conceding a late leveller at home to Leek Town. It was an important point for the visiting Blues, who moved six points clear of the relegation zone after earning another positive result on their travels. 
Fresh from their winning exploits in midweek, Gainsborough Trinity couldn't replicate their success on Saturday, falling to defeat away at Bamber Bridge. Ewan Bange scored his fifth goal in seven games since joining the Brig on loan, turning home a cross from the right to move his side three points clear of the drop zone. 
The only other games of the weekend saw sides second and third-bottom Mickleover and Basford United fall to respective defeats on the road. 

Photo credit: Prescot Cables

 Francis Smith's stunning early strike was enough to see Prescot Cables past Basford at Hope Street, with Mickleover conceding three without reply at Workington as they edged closer to the drop. Mickleover are nine points from safety with 15 left to play for, while Basford are four points better off. 

Results - Saturday 29 March 

• Ashton United 5-1 Hebburn Town
• Bamber Bridge 1-0 Gainsborough Trinity
• Blyth Spartans 0-5 Macclesfield
• FC United of Manchester 0-1 Stockton Town
• Guiseley 1-1 Matlock Town
• Ilkeston Town 2-1 Warrington Rylands
• Morpeth Town 1-1 Leek Town
• Prescot Cables 1-2 Basford United
• Whitby Town 1-2 Hyde United
• Workington 3-0 Mickleover
• Worksop Town 4-1 Lancaster City

Last edited by Matchman (01/4/2025 9:57 AM)