Walkden are attracting rave reviews for the football they have been playing this season.

The latest praise came from Ainsworth, who were gracious in defeat after being comprehensively beaten 9-2 at the weekend.

"That's the best Walkden side I've seen for many years," admitted Ainsworth secretary Brian Lawder.

Steve Clayton led the Walkden goal onslaught, hitting the net four times while the scorers for the losers were Billy Nicholson and Paddy Tanham.

The Division Two basement battle between Bury Amateurs and Ambassadors finished with honours even in a 1-1 stalemate.

Ambassadors took a first half lead when John Boggs hit an angled left foot drive, coming only two minutes after he had hit the post with a right-foot cross-cum-shot. Bury produced their best football of the season and equalised when Barry Price scrambled the ball home from six yards.

Ambassadors keeper and man of the match, Charlie Sandbach made a string of fine saves to keep the scores level, but none was better than the fingertip save in the 18th minute from a shot bound for his top left corner.

His manager Simon Murphy enthused:" Charlie is amazing. He's played four games for us and we have only lost one of those. Twenty years in the game have taken their toll on his body and each week we have to tape him up and send him out. He's a great bloke to have around.!"

Man of the match for bury was centre back Chris White.

Wes Gallagher took his season total to 24 goals with three more in Bolton Lads Club's 6-1 home win over Ashtonians. Further goals came from Alan Mitchell, Neil Boardman and Chris Price.

In Division One Little Lever had to settle for a 1-1 home draw with Broughton Amateurs debutant Michael Hermina the scorer and midfielder Paul Harrison voted star performer.

It was the first game this season in which Kevin Holbrrok hasn't scored but his Radcliffe Amateurs still ran out 4-0 home victors over Mostonians, Shaun Scully getting two and Paul Wilkinson and man of the match Gary Andrew one each.

Horwich RMI drew 0-0 with leaders Walshaw but manager John Sumner felt it was there for the taking. "We played them off the park," he says. "It's our same old problem - not scoring. We hit the bar and post and Nathan Ready blasted one that hit their bloke on the goal line and he didn't know anything about it." Midfielder Rob Sharratt was named man of the match.

Andy Swindells (2), Anthony Bonner and Clint Aspinall earned Thornleigh a 4-4 away draw at Heywood St James.

In the Premier Division Bolton County, despite being without four regulars, still proved too good for Chaddertonians with Jamie McDonald scoring twice in a 2-0 win and Taz Tobin named man of the match.