ONLY four points separate third and 12th place in the Premier Division.

Above the chasing pack, top two Leigh Athletic and Walshaw SC met on Saturday and swapped places as a result of Leigh's 3-1 win.

The Bolton connection of the division fared badly. Old Boltonians fielded a depleted side against Burnley Belvedere and held out goal-less to half time before going down 3-0.

Thornleigh lost 5-1 to Chaddertonians who moved up to third place.

Bolton Wyresdale were away on LFA Cup replay duty, having drawn 3-3 with O. Gregorians the previous week when, after Paul Mellor and Paul Marriott had helped them establish domination, they fell away badly and it took a very late equaliser from Simon Gough to keep them in the tie.

They had no problems this time, though, as Paul Crook and Craig Wright (2) gave the Dale a comfortable half time cushion and both scored in the second half, new-boy Wright completing a merited hat-trick and a 5-0 win.

In Division One, Old Sladians have fallen badly away after a good start and met a Bolton County side in rampant mood to record a 5-0 victory.

But Smithills, whose only defeat now was in the derby with Sladians, kept on County's tail with a 2-0 success at Newman College. Two defenders provided the goals in Andy Ball and Marcus Locke.

Hayward, after registering their first win of the league season, had to take on leaders Little Lever SC in Division Two.

They held on for some time to the lead given them by a Gary Slater header. But Lever increased the pressure in the second half and finally equalised when Tony Whitley converted a low cross.

Lever, with 11 points from five games, are two points ahead of Burnage HSOB and Radcliffe Amateurs, but both of these have played only three games, winning them all. CHORLEY SUNDAY LEAGUE THE major shock in the first round of the Guardian Shield was holders Spinners' 4-0 defeat by Market Tavern.

Results - GUARDIAN Shield first round: Adlington Nomads 1 Euxton Mills 7, Chicago Town 0 Railway 10, Clayton Orient 2 Chorley Saints 5, Duke of York 12 Halfway House 1, Rose and Crown 8 Roebuck 3, Withnell Utd 3 Golden Lion 2, Spinners 0 Market Tavern 4.

Premier Division: Mitre 2 Eagle and Child 3. Division One: Coppull RBL 1 Brooklyn ATH 3. Division Two: Red Lion 2 Masons Arms 6.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.