LITTLE LEVER’S bid to stay in the top-flight is looking increasingly credible after a third win from four games.

Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Horwich Victoria lifted Lee Buckley's side out of the relegation zone, leapfrogging reigning champions Prestwich following their 5-2 defeat at home to leaders Mostonians.

Defeat for Vics leaves them ninth and dangerously close to being sucked into a relegation battle.

Just six points now separate sixth placed North Walkden and thirteenth placed Prestwich – who have slipped a point behind Little Lever.

The only sour note to an all-round excellent weekend for Buckley was seeing striker Matt Carter sent-off for lashing out.

“He’ll be a massive loss but we have so many players back with us now – I know we can cover for him," he said. "Our top scorer Rob Beatty will be available to plug the gap.

“We can have no complaints about Matt’s card, he was fouled, but if you react you leave the referee with an easy decision.”

Carter gave Lever the lead before seeing red, finishing neatly after exchanging a one-two with Leon Farrimond to open up space in the box.

Little Lever wasted some good openings to kill off the game before Mike Fay finally added a second goal 10 minutes after half-time.

He was quickest to react to a corner, prodding the ball home to make amends for a rash challenge in the reverse fixture that gifted Vics a late penalty to seal a victory.

The away side had to endure some nervous moment after Danny Warburton converted from a tight angle to give Vics hope. And the same player almost grabbed an equaliser when he volleyed over from 18 yards.

Vics' rally proved too late, and manager Danny Holmes conceded that his team now risked being dragged into a relegation battle.

“Unfortunately we are in a scrap now," he said. "We should not be too worried as our run-in is easier than the teams below us, but sometimes thinking that way can come back to bite you.

"Little Lever are on a great run and we need to put one together ourselves.”

Leaders Old Boltonians launched a devastating second-half display at Old Mancunians to win 5-1 and record a fifth straight victory.

After a goalless first half, James Kinsler scrambled in the opener six minutes after the break but Old Mancs levelled with a deflected shot on 71 minutes.

Manager Steve Eccleshare introduced attacking wing-back Tom Allcroft, and the substitute was the catalyst for a frantic finish.

Tom Whitaker finished off a run into the box by planting a shot into the bottom corner to put Old Bolts back in front.

Rob Taylor made it 3-1 when he rose to meet a Dean Hailwood cross, and the onslaught continued on 83 minutes when Allcroft's ball was flicked on to the back post for Hailwood to score.

Allcroft put the final gloss on the performance, beating the Old Mancs keeper with a chip from outside the box.

“It was a strange game,” said Eccleshare.

“The first-half was very tight in the middle of the park and there was little to separate us.

"In that closing period though, out hunger was plain to see.

"We wanted to try to tuck up behind Mostonians in the table and the boost to our goal difference could be vital.”

Basement club Castle Hill remain 10 points adrift of safety with six games to play despite registering their first away win of the season, running out 2-0 victors at Old Blackburnians.

New signings Mark Grundy and Aaron McCarthy finally applied a much-needed clinical edge after Rob Rostrun's side wasted a number of chances to take the lead.

McCarthy grabbed the first before Grundy scored a free-kick from 25 yards.