STAND-IN goalkeeper Mitchell Leece saved two penalties in an inspired display as Bolton at Home Sunday League Division One leaders beat reigning champions Farnworth United 5-3 to edge a step closer to taking their crown.

The first goal for the leaders came after five minutes after some great play down the left from Stuart Schofield who slotted the ball to Niall Callaghan and he scored past Farnworth stopper Aron Ruston.

Farnworth brushed themselves down and went looking for the equaliser and within 10 minutes they got it through centre-forward John Stephenson.

The game ebbed and flowed before Callaghan netted his second on the half-hour mark to put Queen Anne back in front.

But the lead did not last long as, straight from the restart, Farnworth levelled again through Shaun Dootson after good work from Gaz French and Gaz Bentley.

The champions were in the ascendancy and Bentley scored an excellent individual goal five minutes before half time to put them in front for the first time.

But it was all square again on the stroke of half time through an excellent 25-yard strike from Tom Halligan.

The second half started with Farnworth back on the front foot and 10 minutes in Joe Cappy was tripped in the box by James Tobin and the Queen Anne defender saw red as the penalty was awarded.

French took the spot-kick but an excellent dive to his left saw Leece, who is normally an outfield player, tip the effort round the post.

Queen Anne's 10 men had to stand firm but five minutes later, Callaghan fouled Bentley in the area and Farnworth had another chance from the spot.

This time Bentley stepped up to take the penalty but again Leece kept it out.

The save seemed to galvanise Queen Anne and deflate Farnworth and in the last 15 minutes, the leaders scored twice through Schofield and Danny Dare to seal victory.

The only other game to be played on Sunday due to the weather was the Division Two clash between Atherton Villa and Lostock FC which ended 2-2, stretching Atherton's unbeaten run to nine matches.

Goals for Atherton came from Steve Dawson and Ryan Ballard, while Owen Wood and a Kane Wrigley own goal came in reply from Lostock.