ELTON Vale maintained their promotion push in Division One of the Lancashire Amateur League with a 5-1 victory at home to mid-table Chapel Town.

The visitors took an early lead, but Elton quickly regained control and were back level on 22 minutes when a testing cross from Stuart Mercer was deflected into the net.

Mercer added a second three minutes later when he pounced on a mix-up in the Chapel Town defence to tap home into an open goal.

Robin Greenwood capitalised on more indecision in the Chapel Town defence on 32 minutes to keep up his record of scoring in each of his first-team games this season.

Elton played into the driving rain in the second half but added two more goals. Gareth Gardiner curled in a superb free kick on 65 minutes before setting up substitute Sean Marsh, who powered home Elton’s fifth.

The result opened up a five-point cushion between second-placed Elton and the chasing pack and left them three points behind leaders East Manchester with a game in hand, with the top two meeting at Wright Robinson College on Saturday.