ATHERTON secured their place in the top six of the Bolton Association with a shock victory over top-of-the-table Edgworth on Saturday.

The penultimate weekend of the regular season saw three games lost to the rain, including Astley and Tyldesley's match against Little Hulton, and the remaining six matches were all played with reduced overs.

In a 24-over game, Atherton scored 121-8 with 20-year-old Joshua Gilluley top-scoring with 29.

Their innings was curtailed by Edgworth's deputy professional Chris Holt, who took 5-58.

Holt turned his hand to the bat and made 26 but the impressive bowling attack of Ian Nuttall (3-14), Gilluley (2-17), Harry McManus (2-32) and Jamar Griffith (2-38) limited Edgworth to 101-9 – 20 runs short of the target.

The runaway league leaders were on a 12-game unbeaten run but still remain 22 points clear at the top.

Atherton captain Paul Walsh has discounted his young side's chances of the title, with them in fifth place and 36 points to make up in five matches.

But he wants them to finish top of the crop of Bolton Association clubs moving to the Bolton League next season.

With the top four all leaving for the Greater Manchester League after the end of this campaign, that means's finishing ahead of surprise-package Lostock, who also secured their place in the top six with victory at third-placed Flixton.

“It would be nice for the lads to move over to the Bolton League as the leading side from the Association,” said Walsh.

“We have got a very young side and I think that would give the lads a lot of confidence to take forward into what we expect will be a step up in terms of the standard of cricket.”

The 32-year-old batsman targeted a top six finish at the start of campaign, as the 2013 title winners and last year’s runners-up entered a period of transition.

And they achieved that with one game remaining of the regular season at Winton this weekend, before the Association splits into three mini-leagues of six teams.

After putting his faith in emerging talent from the second team and under-17s this year, he believes there is still plenty to play for in the run-in.

“We never expected to be up there challenging for the title again this year after losing a lot of experienced players before the season. In many ways, though, we have done better than expected,” he added, after blooding young players like opening bowlers Gilluley and Danny Ashton, 16, left arm spinner McManus, 17, all-rounder Leighton Smith, 16, and batsman Scott Ryan, 17.

“These young lads have not just been brought in to make up the numbers, they have been important players – with bat and ball.

“The experience of first-team cricket they have gained this year should stand them, and the team, in good stead for the challenges to come next season.”

Astley and Tyldesley's washout left them in eighth place, with no chance of forcing a way into the top six ahead of this weekend's game at home to Golbourne.