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Northern Premier League sides once again in midweek action on Matchday 4
While last weekend saw a quartet of sides vying for their first points of the campaign, this Tuesday sees the same number of teams looking to keep their unbeaten start alive. After having the weekend off, FC United of Manchester return to Broadhurst Park to take on a Whitby Town side buoyed by their 4-0 thrashing of Warrington Town at the weekend. That win saw them climb to second in the table, having picked up seven points from a possible nine to open the season. Mark Beesley’s side were top of the league before last weekend’s fixtures, however, and will be aiming to continue their perfect start. So far this term, the Reds have claimed 2-0 wins against Leek Town and Lancaster City.
A battle between two sides occupying the play-off spots will also take place at Dales Lane, as Rushall Olympic play host to Ashton United. Both sides sit on seven points from a possible nine and come into their Tuesday night clash having won by slim 1-0 margins last time out - Ashton at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels, and Rushall away at last season’s play-off finalists Guiseley.
Hednesford Town, who extended their 100% winning start to the season against Workington in their previous game, are on their travels after successive home matches. They face a Prescot Cables side who are searching for their first win of the campaign. Ste Daley’s side are also looking for their first goal of the new campaign. After successive 0-0 draws to open the season, they fell to a 2-0 defeat last time out away at Ilkeston Town. Cables were the fifth-best side in front of their home fans last season, however, so will come into this one with the hope that they can slow what has been a red-hot start to 2025/26 for the Pitmen.
Elsewhere, the schedule for current basement side Workington, who remained rooted to the foot of the table following their defeat to Hednesford at the weekend, doesn’t get any easier. They host Warrington Rylands, who rounded out the play-off places after three games following an entertaining 4-2 win at home to Gainsborough Trinity. This season, the Reds have already had to take on the league’s current top two and last season’s third-placed side in Stockton Town this season. They will once again likely have their backs against the wall against a Rylands side looking good as they aim to replicate their play-off finish of two seasons ago.
Stockton will be looking to replicate their midweek dominance of a week ago when they travel to Gainsborough Trinity. Their six-goal flurry last Tuesday against Workington is their only win so far this campaign, with two draws sandwiched between their incredible performance at the MAP Group UK Stadium. Gainsborough have conceded seven goals in three games so far this season but, like Stockton, kept a clean sheet in their last midweek venture - a 1-0 win over Ilkeston Town. So far, that is Ilkeston’s only loss of the campaign. They travel to Warrington Town this Tuesday with the hopes of making it three wins from four to begin the new season. The Yellows have found the going tough so far on their return to Step 3, picking up just one point from their opening three games. After two consecutive defeats on the road, they’ll be hoping to pick up some form back at the Cal.Delivery Stadium.
Meanwhile, Lancaster City’s late heroics against Hebburn Town on Saturday saw them pick up their first points of the campaign. They’ll look to bring that momentum to Craik Park as they take on Morpeth Town. Like Lancaster, the Highwaymen were on the search for their first points of 2025/26 this past weekend, but were unable to score against Leek Town, who ran out 1-0 winners at Harrison Park. Morpeth find themselves in the bottom three but have played a game less than most of the teams around them, having missed out on action last Tuesday.
Leek Town are on their travels after picking up their first win of the season, as they take on a Bamber Bridge side who are aiming to keep their early-season record perfect at the SFC Stadium. On home soil, the Brig won 2-0 on opening day against Guiseley but have picked up just one point in the two away games since. Looking towards the middle of the park, 11th faces 12th on Tuesday night as Hyde United welcome Guiseley to the Project Solar Stadium. Both sides will be looking to kick-start their campaigns after mixed starts, having picked up four and three points from a possible nine respectively.
And to round off the midweek action on Wednesday, first and third in last season’s NPL East Division face off as Stocksbridge Park Steels host Cleethorpes Town. The two played out a 1-1 draw at Bracken Moor last season, and Stocksbridge will be hoping that they can go one better and pick up their first three points of the new season against a Cleethorpes side who themselves have gone unbeaten through the opening three games.
All fixtures will kick off at 7:45pm, unless stated otherwise.
Fixtures - Tuesday 19 August
- Bamber Bridge vs Leek Town
- FC United of Manchester vs Whitby Town
- Gainsborough Trinity vs Stockton Town
- Hyde United vs Guiseley
- Morpeth Town vs Lancaster City
- Prescot Cables vs Hednesford Town
- Rushall Olympic vs Ashton United
- Warrington Town vs Ilkeston Town
- Workington vs Warrington Rylands
Fixtures - Wednesday 20 August
- Stocksbridge Park Steels vs Cleethorpes Town
Last edited by Matchman (19/8/2025 11:34 AM)