OLD Boltonians boss Steve Eccleshare has warned his Premier Division title-chasers not to rest on their laurels after they suffered an early scare at strugglers Little Lever SC on Saturday.

The second-bottom side went 2-0 up after only 20 minutes and while Old Bolts battled back to win 3-2, Eccleshare believes the champions elect are there to be shot at.

"We are a marked team, now," he said, as Old Bolts sit in second place, four points behind leaders Mostonians but with four games inn hand.

"When teams play against us, they will see it as a cup final, we need to be ready and not rest on our laurels.

"Little Lever were superb and proved that you can't read too much into the league standings."

Little Lever started very much like a team fighting the drop and were well worth their lead when Andy Bingham opened the scoring from the spot on 15 minutes after Craig Bingham had been pulled down in the box.

Leon Farrimond doubled their advantage, jinking past a number of challenges before squeezing in a shot from 30 yards past unsighted debutant keeper Corey James.

Dean Hailwood responded to his manager's calls to move the ball quicker by pulling a goal back for Old Bolts on 35 minutes.

He then exchanged passes with Rob Taylor in the box before firing in the leveller.

The visitors cranked up the pressure after the break and Paul Wheacroft, who was pulling the strings in midfield, rose superbly to head home a Lee Worswick cross for what turned out to be the winner.

Lever came agonisingly close to levelling when Rob Beatty hit the under-side of the cross-bar late on.

And manager Lee Buckley refused to be downbeat after a thirteenth league defeat.

"We could see the confidence coursing through the players, they acquitted themselves superbly," he said. "We need to take that level of performance into our six-pointer with Castle Hill next weekend."

Little Lever travel to basement club next weekend Castle Hill with the hosts struggling to contend with a striker shortage.

Castle Hill started brightly against third-placed Failsworth Dynamos – who play Old Bolts this weekend – but lacked a cutting edge and were made to pay for it as they tailed off to lose 4-1.

Rob Rostron's men went into the break level at 1-1, but with a number of the side forced to play out of position, they collapsed to concede three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

"We need more strength in depth," said Rostron. "Without a striker we are not going to haul ourselves out."

Howe Bridge Mills recorded their fifth straight league win with a 3-2 victory at home to reigning champions Prestwich that was marred by two straight red cards.

The hosts, who went into the match without in-form striker Chris Anderton, conceded a sloppy early goal but Elliott Beaver levelled after seizing on a through ball from Zac Casey.

Mills then had Rick Trew sent off on 35 minutes for a strong challenge, but they rallied to build a two-goal advantage.

Beaver scored a second for Howe Bridge from the penalty spot before the break after Casey had been brought down in the box and Alex Luby finished off a clever pass from Martin Parkinson 20 minutes from time.

Prestwich did manage to pull a goal back in the dying moments, stabbing the ball home from close range, but their celebrations were short lived after one of their players was sent off after a scuffle in the box.

The late drama did nothing to dampen the mood of the Mills' players, however, as they moved up to eighth place in the table.