HE is, by his own admission, Little Lever through and through, and Craig Bingham has steered his side through potentially choppy waters and clocked up maximum points from his two games in charge.

The club recently lost their manager, Matt Barnes, who has taken over at Hallmark Security League Premier Division side Maine Road.

And Bingham, who has been a first-team fixture for 12 years and captained the side for seven, has led the side to second place after they followed up a 3-1 win against champions Failsworth Dynamos with a 2-0 success at Old Mancunians.

“We deserved to win on Saturday,” he said. “That’s two good results and the lads have been good for me, their attitude has been brilliant and they’ve played really well. Discipline was a real problem for us at the beginning of the season but we’ve had maybe two bookings in the last two games.

“Ryan Talbot got both of our goals, the first from the penalty spot, after Mike Jones had been fouled – it was blatant so Old Mancs can’t have any complaints – and he broke away and got the better of both of their centre-halves to score the second. That’s two wins in two of our toughest games of the season, so we’re pleased.”

Little Lever lost three players in the wake of Barnes’ switch, with leading scorer Jack Coop following their former manager, being joined by Matt Woods and Chris Beatty at Brantingham Road.

But, with players excelling after being promoted from within, Bingham will once again lead his club into battle with confidence this Saturday, when they host a Rossendale team they have just overtaken into second place.

“We lost three of our best players who went to Maine Road,” he added.

“But the lads have been top drawer, even though the first team is just about down to a bare XI.

“We’ve signed Aaron Walmsley from Stoneclough and brought up two centre-backs from the second team, Adam Carter and Steve Thomas.

“Steve was playing in the A team at the start of the season but those two have been our best players against Old Mancunians and Failsworth, along with Ste Yates, who has taken over from me as captain.

“We have got quite a young team and at 26 Ste’s one of the oldest, and he’s been just about unplayable recently.

“I know there are a few people interested in the job but I’ll do it again this weekend, my only reservation is combining the management side of things with continuing playing, it’s a difficult job on your own.

“So we’ll continue to work hard and see where that takes us, hopefully we can carry on as we have been doing when we play Rossendale.”

Now second, Little Lever still have ground to make up on Premier Division leaders Old Boltonians, who remained unbeaten after their 3-0 win at home to Rochdale St Clements.

Matt McLellan, Leon Farrimond and Sean Rushton scored to extend the gap to eight points with a game in hand on Little Lever.

Blackrod Town suffered a 4-1 defeat at home to Old Blackburnians.

In the Lancashire FA Amateur Cup, Kieran Rayner’s two goals were enough to give Bolton Wyresdale victory at Longshaw, and safe passage to the quarter-finals.

n In the Hallmark Security League First Division, Daisy Hill took a point from their match at home to fellow strugglers Eccleshall.

Second-bottom Daisy fell behind in the first half but Jordan Prescott’s strike just after the half-hour mark saw them salvage a 1-1 draw. The result means Phil Roberts’ men remain in the relegation zone, four points behind St Helens Town.

Atherton LR stay rooted in mid-table following their 1-0 defeat at home to Oswestry Town.

They travel to Abbey Hulton United this Saturday, while Daisy Hill host Stockport Town.