With just four games remaining, no Bolton Hockey Club team is in a better position than the men’s seconds.

Having only dropped points on four occasions all season, they went into last weekend’s clash against Bury seconds sitting top of North West men’s Division Six East.

With games against the third and second-placed sides to come, they knew that they had to keep their standards high against one of the teams to take points off them earlier in the season, albeit in contentious circumstances.

Bury began better, doing the basics well, and they passed and hounded a Bolton team that was keen to dominate possession as they often did.

Bolton were struggling with the basics, and constantly kept losing the ball in the midfield, a tendency to dribble through players instead of around costing them momentum.

Bury however failed to make their superior possession pay and found themselves behind on 22 minutes. A ball into Kyle Hatch and back to Will Dunlop, who galloped down the wing, saw defenders in two minds on who to cover. Dunlop flowed into the D, the keeper attempted to bring him down, but he remained on his feet and found Aaron Patel, who scored his second goal in as many weeks.

Despite the pattern of poor play continuing, Bolton extended their lead when a delightful crossfield ball from James Taylor found Louie Morgan on the right. He moved down the wing and then along the base line before cutting the ball back to captain Matt Simpson, who controlled once, and slapped the ball on the reverse into the goal.

Despite playing poorly, the seconds had a half-time lead, but moments into the second half, Bury had one back. Lax defending as players expected a whistle to go for a foul, saw Bury play on and put the ball in the net.

Bolton thought they had re-established their lead when a penalty corner stopped outside the D was mishit and went towards the back post where Morgan deflected it in. The initial shot was well below backboard height, but the umpire disallowed it for a lifted ball.

Bury kept playing their game, and Bolton continued to struggle with the simple things. and their opponents got back on level terms when a near-post deflection beat the keeper.

With eight minutes remaining, either team could snatch it, and to complete the shock of the season, Bury grabbed the winner minutes from time. It was almost a carbon copy of the second goal, as the Bury striker wheeled away in celebration.

Bolton put the pressure on but Bury held out and fully deserved the victory.

Results went Bolton’s way as closest challengers Bowdon sixths dropped points which means both teams sit level, however Bowdon have scored more.

The two sides play each other on the last day of the season.

In the day’s other fixtures, the men’s firsts went to table-topping Timperley thirds in North West Men’s Division Three South and despite fighting back from two down to 2-2, they slipped to defeat as Timperley upped the pressure to run out 4-2 winners, Bolton’s goals coming from Nikhil Patel and Zayn Karim as the team remains fifth.

It was a day to forget for men’s thirds, as they went down to a heavy 8-0 defeat at home to City of Manchester thirds.

The North West Men’s Division Six East contest was even for 15 minutes, but City scored at a regular rate throughout the game to run out comfortable winners. The men’s thirds are currently seventh, alongside three teams - all on 20 points.

The women’s firsts were away to North West Women’s Division Two South leaders, Winnington Park firsts, and the hosts ran out 5-0 winners on a tough afternoon for Bolton. They remain 10th in the league and safe from relegation.

Time is running out for the women’s seconds to survive, after a 5-0 defeat to Sale seconds. They are seven points from safety with only nine available, in North West Women’s Division Four East.

The women’s thirds rounded off the weekend against North West Women’s Division Six East table-toppers, Wigan seconds, and lost 2-0 to remain eighth.