BOLTON'S Little Lever SC and Smithills are on the up after winning promotion.

Little Lever are celebrating success in the Lancashire Amateur League Second Division while Smithills' triumph came one division higher, both teams finishing in second place.

The similarity ends there. The progress of Lever to promotion has been smooth and virtually inevitable all season.

At the turn of the year they were leading the table with no defeats and only eventual champions Burnage HSOB, with games in hand, were within sight.

Smithills, on the other hand, lay fifth, seven points adrift of the leaders having already lost three matches.

The two teams which led Division One then, Bolton County and Hesketh Casuals, have both failed to win promotion and, while Hesketh have performed heroically in the cup - reaching the final with defeats of the Premier Division's top two - County have suffered a dramatic plummet.

Their first 13 games produced 32 points, their next 12 - with the division's champions Bury GOB still to play - a mere 14.

The final blow came after Smithills' promotion was secured which happened when County lost 3-2 to Southport Amateurs. But Smithills' 3-1 win was no less sweet for that.

It is the first season in management for Little Lever SC's Phil Hardman and his assistant Steve Mort.

Their final game was against worthy champions Burnage HSOB who they beat 2-1 to finish six points behind.

Michael Peak, the side's top scorer with 10 goals, netted just after half-time and, after Burnage equalised, youngster Phil Regan claimed the winner.

The club has had an excellent season with the A XI having just claimed promotion to 3A.

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