THERE was high drama at the top and bottom of the Premier Division on Saturday as basement club Castle Hill scored a last-minute winner to keep their survival hopes alive while title-hopefuls Old Boltonians lost their unbeaten record.

Rob Rostrun says the great escape is well and truly on for his Castle Hill side after Sam Brooks rifled in from a set-piece with the last kick of the game to seal a 3-2 victory over Horwich Victoria.

Their sixth win of the campaign moved them to within three points of second-bottom Old Blackburnians and five points behind Prestwich and Little Lever, with four games remaining.

And while their chances of finishing outside the bottom two to earn safety still look slim, it looks like Prestwich could be hit with a points deduction for folding their reserve team, meaning Castle Hill may yet escape through the back door.

“We are still waiting to see what happens," said Rostrun. "We were docked four points for being unable to fulfil a fixture earlier in the season, so you would imagine Prestwich will be due a bigger punishment for folding a whole team.

“But all we can worry about is our own performances, and with that win on Saturday we have given ourselves every chance."

Castle Hill started like a steam train, hitting the woodwork twice in the opening 15 minutes before eventually taking the lead on the half hour when Carl Henry poked home from a corner.

Chris Cankalis then volleyed a second goal into the top corner on 35 minutes but the visitors pulled a goal back just before the break when Danny Warburton followed up after Nick Skelley had a shot saved.

Castle Hill defended tigerishly after the break before Matthew Makinson levelled for Vics with 15 minutes to play.

But that was all forgotten when Brooks struck the winner in stoppage time.

"We know we will probably have to try to win all of our remaining games, but with the way we are playing at the moment anything is possible," added Rostrun.

“I went from being sick to elated with one kick and all of the lads left the pitch absolutely ecstatic.”

Old Boltonians lost their unbeaten record and top spot after going down 2-1 at Mostonians, who leap-frogged them to go a point clear.

But Steve Eccleshare’s side remain title favourites, with two games in hand of their rivals.

Old Bolts took the lead in the 38th minute when Dean Hailwood dummied a Lee Worswick centre to allow Matt McClellan to smash home the opener.

But they fell foul of a howling wind in the second half. Mostonians levelled after a punt forward from the halfway line sailed straight in then the Old Bolts keeper misjudged a long throw into the box to leave the home side a tap-in for victory.

Old Bolts’ bid to get back into the match then stalled when play was stopped with 10 minutes remaining after a Mostonian player broke his leg in a challenge.

“We had to wait an hour for the ambulance to come and even had to move pitches to finish the game,” said Eccleshare.

“By that time our lads were freezing and couldn’t get back going."

Elsewhere, Howe Bridge Mills lost 5-4 on penalties at Thornleigh in the First XI Cup.

Chris Anderton’s early opener was cancelled out after the break by the home side as the match finished 1-1 after normal time and the Thornleigh keeper saved Mills’ final spot kick from Zach Casey to clinch the tie.