EARLY Bolton Association pacemakers Elton extended their lead with a narrow victory over Atherton.

The win was instant revenge by the Bury side for last week's seven-wicket defeat in the Cross Cup.

Pro Dexter Fitton is the man the opposition have to handle and Atherton failed to do so when he scored a superb unbeaten 92 as Elton passed Atherton's 188-6 with seven balls remaining.

Carl Brown top scored for Atherton with 52 while Neil Bannister hit 37 not out, Paul Keenan 36 and Philip West 33, Graham Bushell taking 3-28.

Fitton then took charge as Elton took their league tally to five wins and one draw, Ian Nuttall taking three of the seven Elton wickets to fall.

Darcy Lever started and finished the day in second place after a dominant seven-wicket win at Astley and Tyldesley.

Lever pro Devendra Bundela top scored with 57 as Darcy comfortably reached 111-3 with five overs to spare.

The star was Darcy teenager Dominic Gavin who took his season's tally to 22 wickets with another six as A&T were dismissed for 109, Rob Bennett hitting 28 not out and Andrew Rostron 26.

Walshaw are hovering ominously just behind the top two after a convincing victory over Golborne.

It was looking good for the Wigan side when they reached 73-0 after 28 overs. But Walshaw put the brakes on them to keep the target down to a reachable 153, which they reached for the loss of six wickets.

Dale Tyrer scored 44, captain Graham Marston 28 not out and Barry Greenwood 28 while Jonathan Fielding took 4-52 and Tony Kelly claimed two stumpings after replacing the injured Anthony Harris behind the wicket.

Walshaw's winning reply was completed with 16 overs left, Kelly top scoring with 52, Brett Collins hitting 39 and Glen Stephens 24 not out while Golborne pro Reyman Shah took 3-49.

Struggling Spring View, who had not won any of their first five league games, turned the form book upside down when they toppled high-flying Blackrod.

Blackrod, who started the day third from top with just one defeat from five, batted strongly with Jack Southworth hitting 77 and pro Will Halton adding 40 as they posted 218 all out, Dave Gornall taking 3-38.

View finally got their batting line-up to look as good on grass as it does on paper as they romped to victory for the loss of just two wickets.

Pro Arindam Sarkar was unstoppable with 85 not out and Paul Matthews made 51 not out while Rob Turnbull also made a half century.

Clifton's hopes of challenging the leaders were hit by Adlington and Michael Rawlings in particular.

He top scored for Adlington with a half century as the home side set a target of 165-7, Chris Mulligan scoring 32 and Lee Wolstenholme taking 5-66.

Clifton, with a game in hand on most and just nine points behind third place at start of play, were coasting at 50-0 before Adlington brought Rawlings back on to bowl.

In his next 11 overs he took 4-23 and his pro Matthew Taylor went one better with 5-38 as Clifton were dismissed for 117, Ian Morris making 32 and Steven Holt scoring 25 in a late flurry.

There was just one point between Daisy Hill and Standish at start of play and there was little between them as they shared the honours on the pitch.

Daisy opened with 188-8, Abbas hitting an excellent 76 and Howard Brooks scoring 40, before Standish finished on 133-7, P Clucas making 28 and Abbas taking three wickets.

Edgworth climbed off the bottom with a resounding victory over a Lostock team which started the day just a point and a place above them.

After making 175-3, Edgworth whittled Lostock all out for just 40 with Chris Locke the star with seven wickets.