LITTLE Lever manager Lee Buckley has called on his team to win their last eight games to preserve their Premier Division status.

His battle cry followed a confidence-boosting 3-1 victory at home to Old Mancunians at the weekend.

The champions in 2006 and 2010, who have been a permanent fixture in the top-flight since the league's structural overhaul in 2003, are second from bottom, five points from safety.

"We have eight games left and I want to win them all," said Buckley.

"Staying up is in our hands and we are fortunate that a lot of those are against teams we're chasing."

Little Lever's victory against Old Mancunians was the reverse of the score-line between the two side's when they played in November.

Andy Bingham lit-up an otherwise slow opening, when, on 15 minutes, his 30-yard curling shot put Little Lever a goal up.

The visitors went in level though after the home side were undone by a slick one-two on the stroke of half-time.

Little Lever resumed confidently and two second-half goals were just reward for their composure. After 55 minutes, Scott Bingham set up brother Craig, who marked his return from 18 months out with a cool finish.

Scott Bingham provided again for Lever's third, squaring for Matt Carter.

Old Mancunians never truly mounted a comeback, allowing Lever to tie up their third win of the season.

"We played well but then again we've been matching teams all season," said Buckley.

"It's just annoying that we couldn't have got more from those fixtures and left ourselves less to do."

Buckley's side have it all to do to make up the five-point gap on third-bottom Prestwich, having played four more games than the reigning champions.

And it will be tough for his players to pick up the gauntlet in this weekend's match at home to title contenders Old Boltonians.

Old Bolts were in Lancashire Amateur Cup action on Saturday at Wigan outfit Bel Air.

Following a miserable two-hour journey in the snow, Steve Eccleshare’s men acquitted themselves superbly for 75 minutes but were victims of a "smash and grab" by the home team.

Heading in at half-time at 1-1 and proceeding to dominate the majority of the second half, Old Bolts succumbed to late pressure and eventually lost 4-1.

“We were undone by going 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go,” rued Eccleshare. “We had to push forward and were caught out on the break.

“Take nothing away from Bel Air, if they were in our league they would be right up there with us competing for the title.

"This victory will have scolded the lads though and hearing that Lever are right up for the game is great news – we’ll have to be ready for them.”

The defeat ended a run of 21 games unbeaten in all competitions for Old Bolts – 17 of those in the league.

Bel Air opened the scoring with a soft goal from the right, before Lee Worswick equalised for Bolts – his third goal in the cup.

Missed opportunities at the start of the second half were to prove costly. Shaun Rushton and Jason Parry forced brilliant saves from the Bel Air keeper, as the home team failed to create any meaningful passages of play.

But after conceding a second goal against the run of play, Old Bolts were picked off as they desperately pushed forward in an attempt to reach the final of the competition they won in 2013.

Ninth-placed Horwich Victoria made the trip to Castle Hill only for the game to be called off due to a snow-covered pitch.

Next up for Vics are Rochdale St Clements.

Howe Bridge Mills, meanwhile, were due to visit high-flyers Tottington but were spared the 30-mile round-trip after the game was called off on Saturday morning.

"With our form we really fancied our chances so we're understandably annoyed," admitted Mills manager Paul White whose side host Prestwich this weekend.