A faltering championship charge was the backdrop for this LAL game with the Old Boltonians knowing that a third slip up in as many weeks would put paid to any hope of glory this season.

The Old Boltonians had the better of the earlyexchanges and immediately put Little Lever onto the back foot. The Old Boltonians defence were looking solid and provided a platform for the imposing couple of Matt McClellan and David Owen to dominate the midfield and feed the new wingers, Kieran Walsh and Josh Melling. The deadlock was broken by a combination between these two wingers. Melling did well on the right flank to evade a lunge from the left-back and whip a dangerous ball into the box. Walsh met the cross and directed a looping header over the diminutive Little Lever keeper to ensure he had now scored in successive games. 1-0. A spirited response was expected from Little Lever, but for all their commitment, their play lacked a cutting edge and every attack was effectively rebuffed by the Old Boltonians. The score remained unchanged at half-time.

Little Lever started the second half like a bull in china shop. The Old Boltonians didn't concede a chance of any note to Little Lever and had deservedly kept a clean sheet up to this point. The lead was then doubled with 15 minutes remaining in the game. A long ball from goalkeeper Anthony Duffy caught the Lever defence unawares and Rob Taylor went clean through, one on one with the keeper. The Old Boltonians striker kept his head to slip the ball between the legs of the keeper and provide the extra goal cushion that the team needed.

The game was essentially ended when, following a horrendous foul by the Little Lever striker, the referee sent him from the pitch for an early bath. Somehow, the toothless Little Lever attack managed to get a consolation goal with a minute remaining, following some scrappy play, but this was not enough to change the outcome of the game. A 2-1 victory. The Old Boltonians
are now nine points clear at the top of the league.

Click http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/4167289.Lancashire_Amateur_League/ for the Bolton News match report of the same game. The Bolton News will be running a feature on the local side in the Lancashire Amateur League every Monday.