The weather had conspired against amateur football in Lancashire over the last couple of months and ensured that the Old Boltonians had been without a game for 6 weeks. It was inevitable that the team would be a little rusty, but the training they had completed over the 'Winter break' should have set them in good stead for the restart to the season. Their opponents in this game were old foes Little Lever, who had narrowly beaten the Old Boltonians a couple of months earlier in the reverse fixture and put a dent in their title bid. Revenge was high on the agenda.

The pitch at Chapeltown was in good condition, considering the amount of hammer it has taken of late and was undoubtedly conducive to the passing football, which the Old Boltonians like to play. The Old Boltonians started the game strongly. All the early running was made by the black and whites, with Little Lever struggling to get a hold in the game. After ten minutes, possession was converted to goals. Youngster, George Lawton, playing his first competitive game for the Old Boltonians first team found himself clean through, after a neat through ball over the square Little Lever defence by fellow youngster, Alex Meaney. Lawton did not hesitate and neatly stroked the ball past the onrushing keeper. 1-0. Five minutes later the lead was doubled as Jon Burrows produced a contender for goal of the season. The Old Boltonians created pressure on the Little Lever defence and won a number of consecutive corners. A good ball into the box was not cleared adequately and rolled invitingly to the right back, Burrows, who was lurking outside the penalty area. Burrows struck the ball first time with his weaker left foot and the ball arced into the top corner of the goal. The keeper was left rooted. The Old Boltonians were dominant. Burrows ecstatic. Kinsler devastated. 2-0.

The game should have been put to bed in the following 15 minutes as the Old Boltonians dominated proceedings. A number of good chances were spurned, as Little Lever looked shell-shocked. However, the Old Boltonians paid for their over confidence and desperation to finish the game off. Another Old Boltonians attack was halted on the edge of the Little Lever penalty area, but they had committed too many men into the attack. There were gaping holes in the midfield area of the pitch and the full backs had also advanced to provide support to the attack. This resulted in a Little Lever counter attack to the heart of the Old Boltonians defence with five attackers against two defenders. The result was concession of a goal. 1-2. Little Lever then put in a period of domination in the game and looked likely to get an equaliser. They created good chances that could have easily been converted and also rattled the woodwork, but the score remained as it was. This was until there were a matter of minutes remaining in the half. James Kinsler"s devastation was made worse when the usually reliable centre half lynchpin committed a rash tackle in the penalty area and caught the trailing leg of the Little Lever attacker who had jinked past him. The result was an undisputed penalty, which was despatched into the corner of the net to make it 2-2.

The second half started as the first did, with Old Boltonians control. Little Lever struggled to get into the game and created little in the way of goal threat. However, the Old Boltonians could not force the ball over the line to get the winning goal. With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Alex Meaney embarked on a twisting run down the left wing. After beating three men and encroaching into the penalty area, Meaney cut back an intelligent ball for Rick McCllelan. McCllelan struck the ball first time into the corner of the goal past the outstretched arm of the keeper. 3-2. Little Lever became more desperate in their attacks and the ball was pumped from deeper into the Old Boltonians half. But the Old Boltonians had little trouble in defending out the game and recorded a much needed win to remain top