AS the race for the North West Counties Football League Division Two championship hots up, Padiham did their goal difference a power of good with a 6-1 home win.

Ian Pilkington put the Storks on the way to victory in the 13th minute when a Carl Haworth cross was headed back across the face of the Oldham goal by Scott Gizon.

It fell into Pilkington's path and he made no mistake with a well-placed header.

Pilkington added a second nine minutes later, racing onto a long clearance by Hadrian Thorne and flick-on by Gizon. And it was 3-0 in the 38th minute through Haworth after another through ball split the visitors' defence wide open.

Padiham lost leading goalscorer Pilkington with an ankle injury early in the second half. But this didn't hamper the Storks as his replacement Daryl Holden made a positive impact before Gizon headed Padiham further in front in the 57th minute.

Holden had two good penalty appeals turned down by the referee but the Storks were awarded a spot kick for a foul on John Harrison and Dean Stowe converted.

Haworth added Padiham's sixth in the 70th minute after being released by Holden.

Substitute John Parkinson scored a consolation goal for Oldham.

PADIHAM ...6 OLDHAM TOWN ...1