CASTLE Hill manager Rob Rostrun says he and his coaches are determined to claw the club out of trouble after a points deduction left them stranded at the bottom of the Premier Division table.

The club were recently suspended after a clerical error by its secretary, who yesterday resigned, saw them fail to pay the league its expenses for player fines.

The suspension was lifted after they paid a £600 penalty in full, but the Lancashire FA this week deducted four points for failing to fulfil their fixtures.

That left them with no points from 10 matches, six points adrift at the bottom of the table.

“We will not give in,” says Rostrun. “Myself and my coaching team – Conrad Henry and Ronnie Brooks – are more determined than ever to put this right.

“It is very hard, with the financial situation the club is now in, and I don’t know at this stage if we will be able to find the money to survive to the end of the season, but we will try.”

Proceeds from a race night, which the club would normally put towards its £1,400 annual bill for pitch fees, helped pay the league fine.

Rostrun says they also lost seven players during their suspension, but were still able to put a team out on Saturday in a closely fought 2-0 defeat at Horwich Victoria.

Horwich striker Austin Brobbey had a hand in both goals, slotting home the opener on 20 minutes before being fouled in the box to win a penalty five minutes later, which Danny Mills converted.

“The lads were only told about the points deduction half an hour before kick-off, but they put in a great display,” added Rostrun.

“After going behind we hit the post twice, and if it wasn’t for their keeper, who had a great game, we would have come away with something.”

The victory moved Horwich, who had been on the same points as Castle Hill before their deduction, up to 11th in the table, one place above Howe Bridge Mills, who lost 4-0 at league leaders Mostonians.

Little Lever remain second bottom after going down 4-1 at home to fourth-placed Bury GSOB.

Adam Allwin put them ahead in the 15th minute with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner.

But assistant manager Mark Brown said defensive mistakes cost them dear.

Bury levelled on 30 minutes after Little Lever centre-back Mike Fay put the ball into his own net following a mix-up with his keeper.

Andy Dakin then pounced on another mistake to put Bury ahead five minutes after the break before goals from Liam Donnelly and Andy Davies secured the points for the visitors.

Old Boltonians maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-1 draw on the 4G pitch at Failsworth Dynamos.

Lee Worswick put them ahead, tapping in for his fifth goal in six games, before a silly challenge from keeper Josh Bramwell handed the home side a penalty, which they put away.

Old Bolts missed a chance to win it late on when James Kinsler had a spot-kick saved, but they remain well placed in second, three points behind Mostonians but with three games in hand.