DIVISION One leaders Higher Folds lost their 100 per cent record last Saturday when the 3-3 draw at Leigh Avenue raised a few eyebrows.

It also begs the question - Is the Champions challenge beginning to falter.

One thing beyond any doubt is that seven consecutive wins since the start of the season was a dream start for Folds in the bid to retain their title.

While the two points dropped at the Avenue will hardly set alarm bells ringing, rival camps in Division One have to take heart from - and notice of - any little blips.

September is still with us and already the chase for the League's top title has a bit of a one horse race look about it - Folds unbeaten after eight games and three points clear. But the question remains - is the horse developing a bit of an Achilles heel?

On only one occasion this season - the opening fixture - has the Folds defence kept a clean sheet and that was against Astley Villa who currently sit bottom of the table with just one point from seven games. Conceding an average of almost two goals per game is far from ideal and it only needs the front-line scoring machine to start misfiring and the bandwagon could be showing signs of coming off the rails. All credit though Leigh Avenue for last Saturday's result. The scoreline see-sawed with Paul Banks putting Avenue in front on 21 minutes, Neil Clayton levelling for Folds on 32, Banks getting a second six minutes later and on the stroke of half time Steve Connor making it 2-2. Clayton appeared to have put the defending champions in the driving seat on 55 minutes but Avenue were far from done and Steven Ackers got the leveller on 76 minutes.

With teams raising their game in this fashion against the leaders the away fixture at promoted Leigh Sportsmen tomorrow will attract a lot of interest.

Second placed Royal Oak will certainly have half an eye on that game as they remain three points adrift following last weekend's 4-0 home win over Church Inn. Oak striker Shaun Burton continued his rich scoring vein this season with two goals with Ralph Eastham and John France chipping in with one apiece.

Top selection for Match of the Day in Division One tomorrow is Oak's home clash with third placed Three Crowns A who last Saturday celebrated a 6-2 home win over Leigh Sportsmen. Mark Saunders bagged two to take his season tally to eight and Mark Toothill, Greg Anderson, Dave Gibson and veteran Pete Sheppard made up the half dozen. Mark Royle got both for Sportsmen.

The Tyldesley derby finished 3-2 in Union Arms favour over AFC Limelight. Gary Leatherbarrow put Limelight in front on 20 minutes but a Gary Howcroft penalty made it 1-1 just before the interval. Two in five minutes for Union from James Huyton and Paul Monaghan were enough to see of a late charge from the visitors who got a goal back from the penalty spot three minutes from time when Gary Renshaw converted. In Division Two, Fir Tree Rangers head the listing by four points following a 2-0 home victory over Sir Charles Napier. John Bailey and Matthew Seddon were Saturday's scorers as amazingly Rangers have the identical playing record after eight games to the Division One leaders with seven wins, one draw, 35 for and 13 against.

Howe Bridge remain in second place following a 4-2 derby victory over Atherton Royal. Horns Inn overturned a 2-1 deficit in the last 10 minutes at home to Mechanics Arms with two late goals securing a 3-2 win. Jim Yates gave Horns the lead on 20 minutes only for Stewart to level for Mechanics two minutes later and teammate Chris O'Neill to make it 2-1 five minutes after the break Andy Tipping on 82 and Andy Brooks on 85 minutes earned Horns their second win of the season.

Ryan Shaw, Jonathan Wood and Carl Wallace saw Atherton C&N to a 3-1 win over Sailors and Soldiers, Michael Wilde getting the losers' goal. Top clash in Division Two tomorrow is unbeaten Hag Fold WMC at home to big rivals Atherton C&N.

Sir Charles Napier have been deducted three points for failing to turn up for an early season fixture. One game they did make was the clash with Three Crowns B which was filmed by Granada TV for the Soccer Sunday programme and was screened last Sunday.