Bolton Combination

A STEVE White goal 12 minutes from the end of the home clash with Walkden sealed a 1-0 victory for Kersal Vale and with it a first ever Premier Division title for the Salford club. Right from the off this season the Kersal lads have been flying and have lost only once in that charge to the Championship title. Walkden will have to settle for the runners up slot.

Vale midfielder George Rowbotham was named as man of the match.

On a day when the Premier Division title was handed over to someone else Stoneclough came back from a two goal deficit with three goals in the last 16 minutes to register a 3-2 home victory over MPG Landscapes.

Dave Oss had the visitors in the ascendancy with goals on 21 and 37 minutes but the Brook Street outfit hit back through Scott Harrison on 74 and 79 minutes, the second a penalty, and Jason Finley netting the winner in the 89th minute.

Walkers won through to play old rivals Stoneclough in the semi finals of the BEN Open Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 last eight victory over Tottington United. David Clayton got the vital goal on 38 minutes with midfielder Stuart Battel named man of the match.

Brindle Heath celebrated winning the Division One title last week when Diamond were held to a 2-2 home draw by Mitchell Shackleton.

As with Kersal Vale this is the first time the Swinton outfit has clinched a league title in the Combination although they did win the Division One Cup in 1997/98.

qThe weather this season has caused havoc but nowhere more so than with one of the most respected names in Bolton football, Little Lever.

Three weeks ago the club's senior team was kicked out of the Combination Premier Division for failing to turn up for a fixture. Helping hands at the club have dwindled over recent seasons leaving Steve Hoyle to manage both the Combination side and the Alliance Under 18s.

At the time of the open age side's dismissal from the Comb he was able to see a future for the Meadow Close outfit with the Youth team. But now the Under 18s have had fixtures suspended in the Combination Alliance for misdemeanours associated with the senior side.

Hoyle explained: "We had not paid our pitch fees to the Combination but we just haven't been playing. We have had one home match and the fee is £175. If we are not meeting how can I collect players' subs in to get the money? It was just getting harder and harder to keep going.

"Then last week we are told the juniors are suspended. By that time we have bought all the stuff in for the game next morning so it has cost us more money that is wasted. This last Sunday we got a phone call from St Annes Rovers at Liverpool asking us for directions to our ground. It was me who had to tell them the game was off because we are suspended."

Matches Secretary Fred Morris responded: "I have made two appointments to meet with Steve and discuss this matter but he has failed to turn up on both occasions. Obviously we are keen to help the club in any way we can but if he won't talk to us what can we do?" A STEVE White goal 12 minutes from the end of the home clash with Walkden sealed a 1-0 victory for Kersal Vale and with it a first ever Premier Division title for the Salford club.

Right from the off this season the Kersal lads have been flying and have lost only once in that charge to the Championship title. Walkden will have to settle for the runners up slot.

Vale midfielder George Rowbotham was named as man of the match.

On a day when the Premier Division title was handed over to someone else Stoneclough came back from a two goal deficit with three goals in the last 16 minutes to register a 3-2 home victory over MPG Landscapes.

Dave Oss had the visitors in the ascendancy with goals on 21 and 37 minutes but the Brook Street outfit hit back through Scott Harrison on 74 and 79 minutes, the second a penalty, and Jason Finley netting the winner in the 89th minute.

Walkers won through to play old rivals Stoneclough in the semi finals of the BEN Open Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 last eight victory over Tottington United. David Clayton got the vital goal on 38 minutes with midfielder Stuart Battel named man of the match.

Brindle Heath celebrated winning the Division One title last week when Diamond were held to a 2-2 home draw by Mitchell Shackleton.

As with Kersal Vale this is the first time the Swinton outfit has clinched a league title in the Combination although they did win the Division One Cup in 1997/98.

Fixtures suspended

qThe weather this season has caused havoc but nowhere more so than with one of the most respected names in Bolton football, Little Lever.

Three weeks ago the club's senior team was kicked out of the Combination Premier Division for failing to turn up for a fixture. Helping hands at the club have dwindled over recent seasons leaving Steve Hoyle to manage both the Combination side and the Alliance Under 18s.

At the time of the open age side's dismissal from the Comb he was able to see a future for the Meadow Close outfit with the Youth team. But now the Under 18s have had fixtures suspended in the Combination Alliance for misdemeanours associated with the senior side.

Hoyle explained: "We had not paid our pitch fees to the Combination but we just haven't been playing. We have had one home match and the fee is £175. If we are not meeting how can I collect players' subs in to get the money? It was just getting harder and harder to keep going.

"Then last week we are told the juniors are suspended. By that time we have bought all the stuff in for the game next morning so it has cost us more money that is wasted. This last Sunday we got a phone call from St Annes Rovers at Liverpool asking us for directions to our ground. It was me who had to tell them the game was off because we are suspended."

Matches Secretary Fred Morris responded: "I have made two appointments to meet with Steve and discuss this matter but he has failed to turn up on both occasions. Obviously we are keen to help the club in any way we can but if he won't talk to us what can we do?"