PAUL Marriott’s challenge is clear – to help pull Eagley out of relegation trouble – after the former manager returned to the dugout at the weekend as assistant to new boss Simon Whalley.

The Dunscar Bridge side are second bottom of the Premier Division, seven points from safety after taking just four from their first 10 games.

They suffered further disappointment at the weekend after going down 2-0 at home to third-placed Longridge Town.

But Marriott – who guided Eagley to eight cup finals in five seasons, winning five of those – saw enough on Saturday to suggest the club can fight their way out of trouble.

“I cannot fault them for effort, they gave everything,” he said.

“The players were reminded before the game that they are playing at the highest level of amateur football in Bolton and they need to put in that effort to keep their shirt.

“Their response was excellent. What we need now is competition for places to inspire them to keep on fighting for their shirt.”

Eagley went into the break on level terms but conceded from a corner on 56 minutes and let in a second late in the game as they pushed for an equaliser.

“Our job now is to make sure Eagley remain in the Premier Division – nothing more, nothing less,” Marriott added.

“Simon, with his experience as a professional footballer, has what it takes to become a good manager, but just needs a bit of help to get started. With my experience, I feel we can become a good team.”

Tempest United earned the result of the day in the First Division, moving up to eighth with a 5-0 win against GSK Ulverston Rangers.

Matty Carter opened the scoring on 25 minutes before full-back Dennis Strickland finished off a mazy run by blasting the ball into the top corner from 30 yards.

Liam Stewart then hit a hat-trick to underline Tempest’s dominance.

Bolton County remain bottom of Division One after going down 7-2 at third-placed Poulton.

Tom Aspin put County ahead in the 19th minute and added a second 14 minutes from time, but the home side rattled in six goals in between them and rounded off the rout with a late seventh.

CMB were edged out in a five-goal thriller at the top of Division Two. A handful of defensive mistakes saw them go 3-0 down with 25 minutes to play at Haslingden St Mary’s, but Will Archer quickly pulled a goal back with a 30-yard strike and Charlie Scholes rounded the keeper to add a second on 80 minutes.

The Lostock side, who just failed to force an equaliser in a breathless finish, fell to fourth in the table.

Bottom side Stoneclough picked up their first point of the season, twice equalising at mid-table Millom with goals from Jimmy Freebourne and Danny Hill.

Ladybridge were unlucky to go down 4-3 at Burscough in the second round of the Lancashire FA Amateur Shield. They went into the break level at 3-3 after goals from Benson Johnson, Matty Woods and Ant Hough, but conceded a late winner.