MAN-of-the-match Rob Taylor helped to send Old Boltonians top of the Premier Division with two goals in a 4-1 win at Bury GSOB.

Old Bolts' 15th win from 17 matches preserved their unbeaten record for the season ahead of Saturday's crucial game at second-placed Mostonians.

But manager Steve Eccleshare was quick to take the pressure off his players ahead of the top-of-the-table clash.

"We are not thinking about finishing the season unbeaten or even where we are in the title race," he said.

"At this point the lads still have nine games to play so we have to keep the focus on the next game and approach it like that.

"All they can do is put in maximum effort and play to the best of their ability - we can ask nothing more from them."

While Eccleshare is working hard to keep his players focussed, he knows full well that Old Bolts are closing in on a long-awaited title.

After being pipped by Prestwich in the last two seasons, they will take nothing for granted.

But victory on Saturday effectively made it a two-horse race after third-placed Failsworth Dynamos, who have played four more games, drew to fall 10 points back.

Old Bolts seized their chance to move two points clear with two games in hand of their only serious rival Mostonians, who did not have a game on Saturday.

After having a goal disallowed in the fifth minute, Taylor prodded in from close range to open the scoring 10 minutes later.

Lee Worswick then opened up the Bury defence with the pass of the game, which Dean Hailwood duly took past the Old Boys keeper before slotting home, but the home side pulled one back before half time.

Despite coming under increasing pressure, Eccleshare's side recovered and after Worswick rattled the bar with a free kick they soon restored their two-goal advantage when a Bury defender turned a dangerous Tom Whittaker cross into his own net.

And Old Bolts made certain of the points 10 minutes from time when defender Robin Myers ran the full length of the field before his pass was laid off by Sean Rushton to Taylor, who scored his second.

"It was another great performance that for me was epitomised by our centre-back Craig Jolley, who has been a rock for us all season and continues to hold our defence together," added Eccleshare.

The battle to stay out of the bottom two and beat the drop intensified with vital victories for basement club Castle Hill and fourth-bottom Little Lever SC.

Castle Hill's Saul Rostron made the first goal for Gareth Colquitt and then added a second himself as the relegation-threatened side won 2-0 at home to reigning champions Prestwich.

The strugglers remain six points adrift of second-bottom Old Blackburnians, but with five games to play manager Rob Rostrun remains hopeful they can still escape.

"We understand Prestwich have folded their reserve side, which could see them relegated from the top tier, and I know Old Blackburnians have a lot of the top teams still to play so if we can finish above them we could be ok," he said.

Little Lever SC are hoping to stay up without outside help, and they did their chances no harm with a 3-2 win at home to Howe Bridge Mills.

Scott Bingham had a part to play in two of the three goals, crossing for Ben Wells to head home the opener in the first half before robbing the last man and taking the ball around the keeper to roll in the all-important third 15 minutes from time.

Howe Bridge had levelled to make it 1-1 before half time, but Leon Farrimond stabbed in a scrappy second to put Lever back in front.

After Bingham doubled their advantage his brother Andy twice rattled the woodwork before the visitors scored a consolation goal in the final minute.

Elsewhere, Horwich Victoria moved up to sixth place with a 2-1 win at home to Rochdale St Clements thanks to goals from substitute Daniel Rawlinson and Matthew Makinson.