A LATE goal by Matt McClellan maintained Old Boltonians’ two-point lead at the top of the Premier Division.

Steve Eccleshare’s unbeaten side had to work hard to break down a resolute Old Mancunians at Tower Street.

But they got their seventh win in eight league games through two moments of inspiration from Lee Worswick and Matt McClellan.

Worswick put Old Bolts ahead on 30 minutes, his looping 25-yard shot from the right wing, his third goal in as many games, equalling his total for the whole of last season.

Old Mancs equalised with a rare assault on the home goal midway through the second half, an opportunistic 30-yard punt lobbing the keeper.

Old Bolts mindset to go all out for wins this season paid off again when striker McClellan darted free of the last defender and beat the keeper seven minutes from time.

“I wasn’t going to settle for a draw,” said Eccleshare. “I pushed them forward to go for the win and asked them to give me something special and Matt came up with it.

“Old Mancs have the second best defensive record in the league after us so we knew they would be hard to break down, and they were, but we just kept at them.”

Bottom club Horwich Victoria’s struggle to score goals was evident again in a 3-1 home defeat to second-placed Tottington United.

Danny Holmes’ side began brightly but two goals in two minutes towards the end of the first half put them on the back foot.

Dean Spencer pulled one back on 65 minutes when he tapped in a squared pass by Luke Skelly, but conceded a third almost immediately.

Holmes says his side are much better than their record of eight defeats in eight league games this season.

“We hit the bar, the post and missed a penalty and played well as we do every week,” said the manager. “We’re just not winning. Every team we play say they can’t believe we’re at the bottom.”

Little Lever are one place higher and got their second point of the season at home to fifth bottom Old Blackburnians.

The Mytham Road men dominated the game but went a goal down on the break five minutes into the second half.

Scott Bingham hit a deserved equaliser five minutes later when he swivelled on the edge of the box and fired a shot into the bottom corner.”

“Their keeper made some great saves,” said manager Lee Buckley. “A more one-sided game you’ll never see but we just can’t buy a win at the minute.”