LITTLE Lever skipper Josh Gent is challenging his side to get their Association Division title bid back on track tomorrow.

The Victory Road outfit still lead the way in the Bolton League’s second tier but back-to-back defeats against Heaton and Blackrod have cut the gap at the summit.

It means this weekend’s home clash against third-placed Golborne is important for Gent and his team-mates, as they look to fend off the challenge of the visitors and second-placed Adlington.

The captain remains confident but says the players need to focus and dispel any complacency that may have crept in.

Gent told The Bolton News: “The last two weeks have been disappointing.

“We lost to Heaton but when someone gets a knock of 180-plus, like Joe Ball did, you have to hold your hands up.

“That was one of the best innings I have ever witnessed.

“Blackrod are always there or thereabouts and they have beaten us twice now this season so credit to them as well – they were the better side on both occasions.

“But we have been masters of our own downfall really – we have maybe been a bit over-confident and lacking a bit of discipline which we need to get rid of and be on the ball.

“We should have a good lead at the top because we beat second-placed Adlington comfortably twice but they remain a threat because of our slip-ups.

“We have to keep winning and hope they get beat when it should be more straightforward.

“Whenever teams play us they expect their toughest game of the season and to be underdogs and we have let it slide a bit and taken our foot off the gas.

“We did the same early in the season, against Blackrod and Golborne, then won six on the bounce.

“The good sign for me as captain is the lads all showed me they are up for it in training on Tuesday – it was one of the best sessions we have had.

“It proves they still all want it and are determined.”

One blow for Little Lever ahead of tomorrow’s Golborne clash is the absence of one of the league’s top bowlers, with Curtis Anderton away on holiday.

Gent admits it is a big miss but also sees it as an opportunity for the other spinners at the club to fill the void.

He added: “Curtis is away and it’s a blow as he is the best bowler in the league by a million miles.

“But it’s a great opportunity for our other spinners to step up and we will be looking to Adil (Nisar) to weigh in as well.

“Curtis is a miss but I have every confidence we can beat Golborne.

“They have played all right and have a very good pro but I still fancy us if we go about it the right way.”

It could be a double celebration for the Victory Road side this weekend with the second XI in the Birtwistle Cup final on Sunday against Astley Bridge on home soil.

And after witnessing their semi-final win against Horwich last weekend, Gent is also confident about his club’s chances. He said: “We are mid-table in the second tier and faced a Horwich side near the top of the Premiership and I feared for us beforehand if I am honest.

“But the team were brilliant in winning that one – it was one of the best second XI performances I have ever seen.

“If they play like that again on Sunday, they will beat Astley Bridge and win the cup.”