HORWICH Victoria leapfrogged Bury GSOB to regain top spot in the Lancashire Amateur League Premier League with a well-earned 2-1 victory over them on Saturday.

Stand-in Old Boys keeper Tom Massey kept the game goalless in the first half with a stunning penalty save from Luke Scanlon after only 10 minutes.

Bury continued to ride their luck until midfielder Sean Jones finally headed visitors Horwich into a deserved lead on the hour, rising highest to convert a precise corner. His midfield partner Chris Farrell then doubled Vics’ advantage with a carbon copy 15 minutes later.

And while the home side pulled one back through a Ryan Harper free kick in the 90th minute, Martin Farrell’s Horwich team survived to give themselves the perfect start to the new year.

But Farrell is wary of title talk just yet.

“I would say that any side in the top six could win it,” he said.

“It is a very tight, competitive league this year, so we are taking nothing for granted.”

While Bury Old Boys remain second, two points behind, they have played three games more than Horwich.

The Vics’ main title challenge could well come from Little Lever, who are level on points with Bury, but third on goal difference.

They have played the same number of games, 15, as Horwich and got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 3-0 victory at third-bottom Castle Hill.

A goal from centre forward Steve Barlow and a brace from winger Matty Woods helped Little Lever earn their first three points since late October.

However, due to a number of postponements, they had only managed to play four matches since then and had not played since December 8.

Howe Bridge Mills were the only other local side to get a match on at the weekend, drawing 1-1 at home to Old Blackburnians.

Chris Anderton scored his second goal in only his second game for the club to equalise on 60 minutes.

The point consolidated their ninth place in the table.