LITTLE Lever manager Lee Buckley is targeting a top-three finish next season.

The Mytham Road men completed their Premier League campaign with a 6-3 victory over Howe Bridge Mills on Saturday which left them fifth.

The lowest they can finish is sixth and Buckley says that represents progress from last season which he will be looking to continue next term.

“We’ve had some highs and some lows this season, more highs than lows,” said the club’s former goalkeeper who has completed his first season in charge.

“We finished eighth last season and the aim is to continue to make more progress next season.

“We will try to bring in one or two more players to try to finish in the top three. That’s the plan.”

Little Lever went in at half time 2-1 ahead through goals from Adam Carter and Scott Bingham with Brett Farnworth replying for the Atherton side in between.

Little Lever then dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half – Bingham scoring his 20th goal of the season and sub Simon Smith making it 4-1 with his first touch.

The game then inexplicably swung wildly Howe Bridge’s way with Farnworth and Chris Anderton pulling it back to 4-3 during a spell of Howe Bridge dominance which ended when Phil Regan scored two late goals for the home side.

“The scoreline flattered them but it was a strange game,” said Howe Bridge official Wayne Anderton, who joked: “We only had 11 players and I have to say 48-year-old Chris Arneson at centre half – our third team player-manager – looks a good prospect for the future!

“Little Lever looked like they were going to score a load of goals at the start of the second half, then we looked like we would score every time we got the ball.”