BACUP BOROUGH remained at the top of the league after their second goalless draw with third-placed St Helens Town this season.

During the first 45 minutes Bacup created the best chances as Lee Wilkinson was unlucky on three occasions, inlcuding one shot that hit the post.

At the start of the second half the home side had their first real threat in the game when they brought two good saves from David Felgate before Gary Lloyd found himself clear, but his first touch gave the keeper the chance to clear.

Martin Peters then fired narrowly over the bar and the final chance of the afternoon went to Bacup when Bates played a quality ball into the area and Peters shot over when a little more composure would have secured maximum points.

COLNE continued to give the home fans at Holt House value for money as they made it 13 goals in two games.

However, after the 6-0 thrashing of Atherton LR, Colne were on the wrong end of a 4-3 score line against unbeaten Skelmersdale United.

Skelmerdale were ahead on 15 minutes when the home defence failed to clear a ball into the area and five minutes into the second hlaf the Reds were two down.

A lifeline followed when Ian Simpson was fouled in the area, resulting in a sending off for the visitor's captain, and a penalty which Carl Haworth converted.

This was a signal for the Reds to step up a gear and the introduction of Paul Forsyth, with man of the match James Webster running midfield, brought the equaliser.

Webster's defence-splitting pass released Forsyth and the winger's cross was deflected in for a own goal to level at 2-2.

It looked like the tide was turning until a Ross Baxter error gifted Skelmersdale the lead again as he scuffed a simple clearance straight to Lee Thompson.

Within five minutes it was 3-3 when again Webster released Forsyth and Ian Simpson scored at the far post.

Haworth had a great chance with only a defender on the line but failed to covert and this was followed by an amazing scramble in the goalmouth.

Substitute Steve Cunningham also had a great chance to settle it but he put his header and Colne lost it with two

minutes to go when again a defensive error gifted United the points.

A dismal first half display consigned RAMSBOTTOM UNITED to their first home defeat of the season in the league against Alsager Town, who beat them for the second time this season.

The Rams were unable to cope with the direct approach taken by the Staffordshire outfit in the opening half, and former league player Paul Macari showed the home forwards how to clinically finish from inside the penalty area.

An incisive pass on 14 minutes found the lively Macari on the edge of the box and his low shot appeared to deflect off a Ramsbottom defender and nestled in the back of the net with Mark Andrews motionless.

On 38 minutes the second goal duly arrived when a dangerous corner caused mayhem inside the box and Macari was on hand to fire home from two yards.

Matt Edgington and Adam Cook were introduced to change the pattern of the game but it wasn't ong before penlaty, given for handball, was converted by Alsager skipper Wayne Brotherton.

Michael Saunders was lively enough to pounce on a mistake to slot into the

empty net from an acute angle or alate consolation.

GREAT HARWOOD TOWN lost their first game under the leadership of Dave Sharples with a narrow defeat by Maine Road at the Showground.

A Neil Chapman strike on the half hour mark was enough to give the visitors the points as the Robins remain rooted to the foot of NWCL Division One with seven points from 15 games.