NEIL Johnson is rueing five dropped points in the last two games which have prevented his Turton side from being two points clear at the top of Division One.

The manager saw his side slip to their second defeat of the season – 4-3 at home to Askam United – after dominating throughout.

And after throwing away a 3-1 lead to draw with Fulwood seven days earlier, Johnson wants to see his side turn dominance into points.

“I have no complaints about losing that one, but we threw away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 last week and this week’s game was exactly the same.

“We were 3-0 down after 20 minutes to three counter attacks and in the second half we had 80 per cent of the ball and got it back to 3-3 then lost it to a sucker punch near the end.”

Tom Morgan started the Turton fightback with their first goal before half-time.

Phil Johnson made it 3-2 shortly after the break and Kieran Sisson equalised from the penalty spot on 55 minutes with his 10th strike of the season before having to go off with an injury.

The defeat left Turton fifth in a congested top five, one place and three points ahead of fellow Bolton outfit Tempest United who drew 2-2 at home to eighth-placed Hurst Green.

Dennis Strickland equalised on 17 minutes after the Lostock men conceded a ninth-minute opener and Gareth Gemmell put the local lads ahead on the half hour only for the visitors to level three minutes after the break.

Tempest boss Trevor Ball said: “It was probably a fair result although young Pete Lancaster hit the bar late on with a half volley.

“He’s only 17 or 18 and he’s been playing really well the last few games.

“He’s one of a lot of young players we are bringing through this season.

“We’re obviously looking at doing as well as we can but we won’t be too disappointed if we don’t go up this season because we have a lot of young players in the side who’ll benefit from this season whatever happens and then will be looking to go up next season.

“We’ve won three and drawn one of the last four games so we’re on track. But it’s a season of transition for us.”

Bolton County will be boosted by their best performance of the season despite finding themselves three points adrift at the bottom with one point after a 2-0 home defeat to Fulwood Amateurs.

They had their backs against the wall from the fifth minute when centre-half Josh Evans was sent off after being adjuged to be the last man when fouling an opponent, a decision County contested.

The Darcy Lever men looked to be holding out but were hit further by an injury to defender Jack Rigby and Fulwood finally broke County’s resistance with two goals in the last eight minutes.

Chew Moor Brook romped to a 4-0 home win against Furness Cavaliers to go third in Division Two, one point behind leaders and local rivals Ladybridge.

A second rock solid defensive performance in succession – after they had conceded plenty of goals in previous games – set the foundation for an impressive victory over the sixth-placed visitors.

Ryan Spackman set the Lostock men on their way on 25 minutes before Matthew Carr (35) and Paul Hallows (45) gave them a comfortable half-time lead.

Carr completed the scoring with a re-taken penalty six minutes from time.

Liam Carr has been a key figure since being switch from centre-forward to centre-half for the last two games.

Assistant manager Murray Boyd said: “We have worked a lot on our defensive side because of the number of goals we were conceding and moving big Liam back has made a big difference.

“We’ve only conceded one goal in the last two games and that was a 35-yard wonder strike.

“It was a very good win and could have been a bigger score. Will Archer had a penalty saved after 10 minutes.

“This is the best squad we have had and it’s a big squad. We seem to have that winning mentality and will keep going to the end.

“You feel there is more to come from them too. We’re playing good football and I would say we have the best chance of getting out of this league than we’ve every had.”

Ladybridge remain top despite suffering their first defeat of the season, 5-3 at eighth-placed Millom, largely due to making too many errors in defence.

The home side went ahead three times only for Matty Woods, Benson Johnson and Woods again to equalise, the first from the spot after Daniel Edmondson was fouled.

Woods’ second goal came in the last minute and sparked a late goal rush with Millom instantly replying with two strikes to win a thriller.

Ladybridge had eight first-team players unavailable and four players making their debuts.

Jimmy Freebourne scored a late consolation for Stoneclough in a 5-1 defeat at second-placed Haslingden St Mary’s which leaves the local lads 12th.