TITLE rivals Radcliffe Amateurs and Little Lever fought out a draw in the weekend's big match.

The two teams are so closely matched that the only points dropped by title chasing Radcliffe have been two draws - against Little Lever.

The latest on Saturday saw the two neighbours tied at 1-1, both sides playing some excellent football.

Lever manager Gary Goulding said: "That was the first time this season that I've been able to put out what I consider my best eleven and it showed.

"It was a good performance from us with the only black point being John Done getting sent off five minutes from time.

"He retaliated and he really should know better."

Andy Fane gave Little Lever the lead on 17 minutes but just when it looksed as though the visitors were heading for victory, Shaun Scully hammered one home for the Ammies 18 minutes from the end.

The man of the match awards went to Phil Regan for Goudling's team and Rick Stevens for Radcliffe.

Old Bolts manager Peter Cooper feared the worst for the home Premier Division clash with title chasing Gregorians after a succession of cry-offs saw him left with a bare eleven to select from.

He need not have worried as his scratch side more than matched one of the best teams in the division to earn a 1-1 draw.

Simon Neald promoted from the second team got the Bolts goal with a dubious penalty decision gifting the visitors a leveller. Simon Shields revelling in his new role in the middle of the back four got Cooper's vote as man of the match.

There was little to please Bury GSOB manager Howerd Croft in his team's 6-2 defeat at hardworking Prairie United other than scoring the first and last goals of the game through Paul Wilde and Mike Tarron.

Rivington beat Lymm 4-0, all four goals coming in the first half hour. They came courtesy of a Craig Walkden shot deflected into his own net by a Lymm player and Richard Collier with the latter brought down twice for penalty kicks which man of the match Liam Carr converted.

Thornleigh pulled off one of the shock results of the season with a stunning 7-2 away victory at table-toppers Walshaw Sports.

Clint Aspinall bagged a hat-trick to take his season tally to 12 with further strikes coming from Wayne Belshaw, Robert Partington, Martin Warburton and Andy Swindels. Man of the match was Noel Clarkson.

A 65th minute tap-in from Julian Stevens looked to have given Sladians the edge at home to Oldham Hulmeians but the visitors levelled almost immediately for a 1-1 draw. Peter Norris was the Bolton side's star performer.

For the third time in their last three meetings Walkden just edged out Bolton Lads Club for a 1-0 Division Two victory.

Manager of the losers Dave Gorman said: "It was very disappointing. We had our chances early on but didn't take them.

"Then our keeper got hurt and Alan Mitchell took over the gloves so it weakened us in the outfield."

The Lads Club man of the match award shared between Dean Skelton and Jeff Brookes.

With The Rezzies

Ainsworth - 2nds beat Heywood 8-4 (Keith Hall 4, Ian Berry 3, Mick Jefferson)

Bolton County - 3rds got their first win of the season 2-1 at Walshaw (Lee Horsley, Adam Rodzoph - mom - Matt Parks), 4ths lost 2-1

Bury GSOB lost 2-1 at home to Lymm (John Edwards), 3rds beat Oldham 2-1, 4ths lost 3-0 to Oldham.

Horwich RMI - 2nds beat Old Mancs 3-2 (Gary Mather 2, Sean Bradbury), 3rds lost 6-4 to Old Bolts

Radcliffe Ams - 2nds beat Old Bolts 3-2 (Mike Chidoba, Steve Gardner, Martin Silvester - mom Darren Clarke), 3rds drew 2-2 with Rossendale (Chris Bluer, Steve Hough - mom)

Sladians - 2nds drew 2-2 with Bury Ams

Thornleigh - 2nds drew 2-2 with Burnley GSOB (Nick Grimwood, Dave Carroll - mom Anthony Harris), 4ths lost 7-2 at Accrington (Ian Crossland, Ewhen Holowaty - mom Lee Fallows)