STONECLOUGH remain Bolton’s only side left in the Richardson Cup after their game was postponed and Eagley and Tempest United went out in Saturday’s first round.

Eagley went down 2-1 to Charnock Richard in the clash of the Premier Division’s top two in front of a big crowd at Dunscar.

Leaders Charnock went 2-0 up with a goal in each half before Brian Moore pulled one back with 15 minutes remaining.

Tempest gave outings to reserves, left-sided midfielder Sean Rothwell and striker Nathan Monson, in their trip to Blackpool Wren Rovers.

And while the reigning league champions ran out 3-0 winners – to end Tempest’s four-match unbeaten run – manager Trevor Ball was encouraged by the performances of his two youngsters.

He said: “I wanted to have a look at them against the best team in the league to get an idea of whether they’ve got what it takes to play in the first team. And they both did well.”

In the league, Turton remain three points adrift at the bottom of Division One, but with games in hand on most of the teams above them after a 1-0 home defeat to mid-table Haslingden St Mary’s.

In their first game for seven weeks, Turton showed a commitment and team spirit which augurs well in their attempt to escape relegation.

After falling behind 10 minutes before the break, the Thomasson Fold men were desperately unlucky not to come away with a point, with Tom Gilbertson and Steve Fitton going close and Kieran Sisson hitting the post with the last kick of the game.

Bolton County produced the performance of the day with a 1-1 draw at unbeaten leaders Ambleside United to leave them third bottom of Division Two.