HORWICH Victoria continued their impressive revival in the Premier Division with a third successive victory.

A 3-1 home win against Howe Bridge Mills made it one defeat and four wins in the last six games – a remarkable transformation from the start of the season which saw them lose their opening eight games.

Third bottom Howe Bridge have been showing better form themselves of late and began the game three points behind Vics with three games in hand.

They started the brighter and hit the bar before they were stunned by two goals in two minutes inside the first quarter of an hour.

Sean Jones got the first with a far post header from Luke Skelly’s free kick, and Chris Aspen made it two when he side-footed Andy Walton’s long crossfield ball in on the half volley.

Howe Bridge halved the deficit with a penalty from Chris Lowe before half time and the close game remained in the balance until Matty Makinson gave the Horwich men a two-goal cushion 15 minutes from time when he slid in to convert new signing Danny Mills’ cross.

Joint manager Danny Holmes said: “We’re getting there. We knew we had something, it was just a case of putting it all together and making one or two little changes.

“It was a hard game on Saturday. Howe Bridge played well, better than us at the start and could have scored the first goal. They made it tough and we did well to win the game.

“We’re not saying anything daft like we’re going to win the league, but we’re happy with the way we’re playing and hopefully can keep climbing the table.

Old Boltonians are hoping to win the league after two years of being pipped to the title by the smallest of margins.

Currently second, seven points behind leaders Mostonians with five games in hand, they are in a good position as they approach the halfway stage.

And they maintained the only unbeaten record in the Premier Division with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Rochdale St Clements.

With all the goals coming in the first half, the Chapeltown men held out in the second half with a resolute performance.

And manager Steve Eccleshare paid tribute to defence who he said had been the foundation to their impressive season.

“The back four of Nick Holt, James Kinsler, Craig Jolley and Robin Myers have been a rock collectively throughout the season,” he said.

“We defended really well again on Saturday, and we had to do because Rochdale played well. But our defence have excellent and have been behind much of what we have achieved so far this season.

“In front of them Tom Whittaker is the holding midfielder and was man of the match on Saturday.

“He and Dave Warburton, our other central midfielder who gets forward, were everywhere.”

Sean Rushton put Old Bolts ahead on 20 minutes when he latched on to a ball from Darren Dalton and beat the keeper in a one on one.

Warburton doubled the lead seven minutes later when he raced on to a Dalton lay off and produced a composed finish.

The home side pulled one back when Old Bolt’s centre halves accidentally collided and took each other out and the Rochdale striker capitalised.

“It was a tough game,” added Eccleshare. “But they all are now because everyone treats the game against us like a cup final. They all want to beat us, but that goes with the territory and we have to deal with it.”

Bottom club Castle Hill put themselves back in positive points territory after their recent four-point deduction when they had an impressive 1-1 draw at Bury GSOB, while second-bottom Little Lever’s difficult period continued with a resounding 5-0 home defeat.