THE Bolton Association will split into three groups of six for the last-ever time this weekend as the league’s final season enters the home stretch.

Team’s will be grouped according to their league position in the league table, with leaders Edgworth, Swinton Moorside, Flixton, Lostock and Atherton all joining fourth-placed Bury in the top division.

And despite the Radcliffe Road men being 29 points off the pace, captain Sean Gibson has not given up on his side winning the title.

“Edgworth are obviously way out in front at the moment but anything can happen now,” he said.

“They have the points advantage but anyone in the top six could go on to win it as all the teams will take points off each other.

“We haven’t given up on winning the silverware yet. We’ve got a good record against those in the top six.

“We were on course to beat Edgworth before the game was abandoned due to rain last month and they are only team to have beaten us are Atherton.

“Every game is a big game now and it’s all about performing on the day.”

With just five games of the season to go, Bury, unbeaten in 10 league games, travel to sixth-placed Lostock on Saturday in confident mood.

“We beat them fairly easily on the first day of the season,” said Gibson.

“They’ve been playing well recently but we are on a winning roll ourselves so hopefully we will come out on top again.”

Bury avenged their Cross Cup semi-final defeat against Blackrod four weeks ago, thumping them by 147 runs in their own backyard last weekend, winning by 147 runs.

Professional Ashen Silva knocked 104 not out and Simon Belston also hit 45 as Bury posted 240-7.

Thushendra de Zoysa (4-42) was the only bowler of note with figures of 4-42.

Zak Burton top-scored with 26 in reply but the troublesome trio of Mohammed Janghir (3-18), Silva (3-23) and Neil Tong (3-28) dismissed the hosts for 113.

“It was nice to get the win because we felt we should have beaten them in the Cross Cup semi-final,” said Gibson.

“It felt like we had something extra to play for in the last of the pre-split games,” said Gibson.”

Bury’s local rivals Walshaw will play their last five games in Section B alongside Worsley, Blackrod, Astley & Tyldesley, Adlington and Winton after their dismal run of form continued with defeat away at Standish.

“I’m surprised that Walshaw are not in the top six,” said Gibson. “We’ve played two close games against them and I consider them to be one of the best teams we have played this season.”

After sitting in second place in the table at the end of June, Walshaw are now slumped to 11th after picking up only one win in their last seven games.

Nick Smith (40) and Sam Heeley (38) led Standish on the way to a total of 177-8,. Danny Hornby was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-23.

Tom Murphy yet again top-scored for his side with 34 but Walshaw failed to deal with the impressive bowling attack of Ben Dowling (7-44) and Israr Ul Haq (3-49) who took 7-44 and 3-49 respectively.