Averaging 1.7 points per game at home, or twenty points from their dozen home games. Worksop suffered defeat on opening day to Macclesfield, before winning three games on the bounce. Conceding only two times as they bagged fifteen goals in those three games. A sticky October saw the Tigers tamed. Defeats to Prescot Cables, Hebburn and Morpeth were followed by another trio. Victories this time, against Whitby, Stockton & Leek, before draws against Warrington Rylands and FC United of Manchester brought Worksop's 2024 home campaign to a close.

The Holy Blues on the other hand, have a points per game of 1.8 made up of five wins and a draw from the nine away games. Away defeats to Morpeth and Macclesfield surrounded the Blues’ fantastic run of just one defeat in fifteen that saw the Blues progress in the Emirates FA Cup & Isuzu Trophy, including the entire month of October, where the Blues failed to play a league game, due to our Cup exploits. The only other away defeat coming up in the North East against Hebburn on a wild and windy August evening. Four victories in five, away from home, started against Leek Town and included wins against Matlock, Mickleover and Lancaster City, which will give the travelling Blues confidence that a win against Worksop is certainly a very real possibility...

There’s likely to be a bumper Bank Holiday crowd down at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium, but let’s do all we can to welcome in the new year with Russ and the players, and make sure we have a decent Blue Army following to lift the players, and give them that extra percentage they need to head back down the A47 with the points in the bag, and local bragging rights secured! Worksop’s ground can be found off Babbage Way, Nottinghamshire, S80 1UJ. And prices for the match are set at £13 adults (17-64) £9 concessions (64+) £6 youth (12-16) and £3 (11 and under).

See you there. Be loud, be proud. Be Blue. Gainsborough Trinity blue!

Elsewhere

In an action-packed start to 2025, there is a full schedule of Pitching In Northern Premier League matches planned. But little emphasis seems to have been placed on the local element of games, with New Years Day travel often problematic, it’s a long old trip for Mickleover heading up to Lancaster. Long gone appear to be the days of the traditional double headers that would have seen a quick turnaround of Gainsborough/Worksop followed by Worksop/Gainsborough five days later, or Workington and Lancaster battling it out, twice in a week!

The first one on the list looks a proper ol’ derby though, the Robins and the Rebels could be decided by the odd goal in five. Whatever happens, the league table is set to look very different come 5pm, with such a tight division, and everyone in the league capable of beating anyone else… Mickleover and Leek beating Macclesfield proves that theory, in a division where Macc are running away with the title! Here’s the list in full:

Ashton United vs FC United of Manchester
Guiseley vs Bamber Bridge
Hebburn Town vs Workington
Hyde United vs Macclesfield
Ilkeston Town vs Basford United
Lancaster City vs Mickleover
Leek Town vs Matlock Town
Morpeth Town vs Blyth Spartans
Prescot Cables vs Warrington Rylands (pitch inspection scheduled for 10.30)
Whitby Town vs Stockton Town

Preview written by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)