THE Bolton Association Championship has been thrown wide open after leaders Elton forfeited 14 points for starting a recent game with Golborne 20 minutes after the cut-off time of 4pm.

Suddenly, Atherton and Darcy Lever, who before last week's decision by the Association committee were trailing Elton by 26 and 38 points respectively, are now within touching distance of the leaders.

Atherton managed to win last week, with good performances from Neil Bannister and Philip West, while the leaders and Darcy were washed out, and more importantly also have a game in hand.

Yet this weekend's double programme could throw everything up into the air again as all three sides face tricky games.

Tomorrow. Atherton go to Little Hulton -- a side who, despite slipping into the middle of the table, still have the players capable of testing any side.

And then 24 hours later, third placed Darcy Lever will provide the opposition in what looks to be a must-win game for the title aspirations of both sides.

Elton, meanwhile, will not find winning any easier when they face Spring View tomorrow, followed by a trip to Daisy Hill on Sunday, yet they felt so frustrated by the Committee's decision last week, that it may give them the extra resolve to step up their performances.

At the other end of the table, Lostock look to have been cut adrift by the teams above them.

They trail Golborne by 52 points, and given that they have to play the rest of the season's matches away from home following problems with their pitch, their situation now is starting to look desperate.

They are still looking for their first win of the season, but they look to have a better chance of achieving that tomorrow, when they go to Adlington, than they do on Sunday when they make the trip to fourth-placed Walshaw.