Despite their four goal reverse at Avenue, the expectations amongst the Nelson faithful for a reversal in the return game were high, although the turnout proved somewhat disappointing with gate receipts totalling just £345.
The first half was superb, a fascinating end-to-end affair, though it was Nelson creating all of the clear cut chances. Eddleston had a glorious opportunity early on, but his hesitancy allowed for a last ditch tackle to be made, Braidwood hooked a shot onto the roof of the net, and Wilson forced a good save from Scattergood following a corner kick.
Eddleston was foiled again when through on goal, and Hutchinson forced an exceptional save from the visiting keeper. Meanwhile, Avenue's Turnbull was proving a handful at the other end, but several useful crosses were being competently dealt with by the Blues backs Lilley and Rigg.
The chances for Nelson continued to come and go - Hoad and Wilson forced further saves from the busy, yet inspired, Scattergood - and when Eddleston fluffed an open goal by hitting the post it looked like it might not be Nelson's day. Indeed it may have been worse if Lilley hadn't superbly tidied up in defence following a miskick by Rigg.
Four minutes into the second half though, Nelson received the reward their play had warranted. Hutchinson provided a cross into the danger area, and McCulloch fired into the corner of the net to finally breach Scattergood's goal and open the scoring.
Avenue were spurred into action by this setback, but again great work from Turnbull was wasted once he delivered the ball into the area. Back at the other end, Eddleston had yet another chance to get on the scoresheet, but Scattergood brilliantly clawed away his shot from just inside the post.
The visitors were reduced to ten men late on when McGloughlin was sent off, but they still had time for one last attack. A wicked cross was diverted away by keeper Birds, and Braidwood could only head clear straight to Keetley, who immediately headed back goalwards but straight into the grateful arms of Birds. Nelson had their first points on the board. | | Match 2 summary: Saturday 2nd September 1922 | | | Nelson | (0) 1 | Bradford Park Avenue | (0) 0 | | McCulloch | | | | Nelson: Joseph BIRDS, Bob LILLEY, Clement RIGG, Ernie BRAIDWOOD, David WILSON, Jimmy BROADHEAD, Sid HOAD, Arthur WOLSTENHOLME, Joe EDDLESTON, Mike McCULLOCH, Bob HUTCHINSON | Bradford PA: E. Scattergood, F. McGloughlin, W. Brandon, D. McDonald, G. Fell, D. Howie, R. Turnbull, A. Kirkland, T. Keetley, H. Peel, J. McCandless
Attendance: 7,000 |
 | Eddlestone's late goal settled it |
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Nelson's third match was at home to Stalybridge Celtic, who had narrowly knocked them out of the Lancashire Cup the previous week, and another tight encounter was expected.
However, Nelson flew out of the blocks in the first half, but similar to the previous week against Bradford, the ball simply wouldn't find the back of the net. Wolstenholme's shot smacked against the crossbar, Hoad's effort came back off the post, and Eddleston forced a fine parry from Lonsdale in the Celtic goal, who blocked the follow-up shot from McCulloch while still grounded.
Stalybridge tightened up defensively in the second half - Tyler proved a rock in the heart of defence - and restricted Nelson to efforts from distance as the game became much more even. Then on 72 minutes, with the game seemingly heading for a scoreless draw, Eddleston moved menacingly forward. With the defence backing off, he unleashed a shot into the corner of the net to put Nelson ahead.
Celtic came back in search of an equaliser, but Broadhead and Braidwood were awesome at the back and coped with all that was thrown at them. The nearest Celtic came was when Benson found the target from distance, but Birds gathered easily. Nelson too went forward as they looked to put the game beyond doubt, but there were no further goals and the home side had completed their second successive 1-0 win at Seedhill.
| | Match 3 summary: Saturday 9th September 1922 | | | Nelson | (0) 1 | Stalybridge Celtic | (0) 0 | | Eddleston | | | | Nelson: Joseph BIRDS, Bob LILLEY, Clement RIGG, David WILSON, Ernie BRAIDWOOD, Jimmy BROADHEAD, Sid HOAD, Arthur WOLSTENHOLME, Joe EDDLESTON, Mike McCULLOCH, Bob HUTCHINSON | Stalybridge: T. Lonsdale, F. Broadhurst, W. Dennis, J. Carney, H. Tyler, H. Lockett, H. Stafford, J. O'Kane, C. Sambrooke, E. Wordley, G. Benson
Attendance: 5,000 |
Halifax arrived at Seedhill the following Tuesday night - a rare midweek game in the early days of the League - unbeaten in their first three games, and buoyed by a 2-2 draw the previous weekend at Bradford. In their team was Wilde, who had been signed from Nelson the previous week.
Nelson lived dangerously in the early stages, and found Vallis and Ellson particularly tricky down the wings for Town. Lilley had to be alert to kick clear near the line as Halifax dominated the opening quarter hour.
The visitors couldn't take advantage of their good start though, and Nelson gradually came back into the game, with McCulloch and Hutchinson proving a handful of their own up front. Bown in the Town goal had to be alert to keep out a couple of good efforts, but there was nothing he could do on 33 minutes as Nelson scored a beautifully crafted goal.
McCulloch took hold of the ball in midfield before outwitting three Town midfielders and feeding the ball out to Hutchinson. He breezed past Treasure down the left and provided a pinpoint cross for Eddleston, who nodded home to score his third of the season.
Despite not claiming it, Nelson were almost awarded a second goal after a Hutchinson cross was forced into the visiting goal, but after pressure from the Town backline, the referee consulted his linesman, who correctly told him that the ball had crossed the byline before being centred.
Wolstenholme almost extended the lead twice early in the second half. His first effort found the crossbar with the keeper well beaten, and he completely missed a perfect centre from Hutchinson when it looked easier to score.
Hutchinson was in brilliant form, and he was again instrumental in the second Nelson goal. Another fine run down the left resulted him in crossing to Eddleston, who made no mistake as he drilled a low shot beyond Bown.
Following the second goal, Halifax came back into the game more. Ellson fired narrowly over the crossbar, and Birds then saved smartly down by his post from another effort. Dixon then burst through on goal, but Birds was alert to rush out and clear the danger.
As time ran out, Eddleston was denied a hat-trick by a fantastic stop by Bown, and though the Nelson boys had been in a tough battle, the full-time whistle signalled a third succcessive home win and a first ever visit to the top of the table.
| | Match 4 summary: Tuesday 12th September 1922 | | | Nelson | (1) 2 | Halifax Town | (0) 0 | | Eddleston 2 | | | | Nelson: Joseph BIRDS, Bob LILLEY, Clemet RIGG, David WILSON, Ernie BRAIDWOOD, Jimmy BROADHEAD, Sid HOAD, Arthur WOLSTENHOLME, Joe EDDLESTON, Mike McCULLOCH, Bob HUTCHINSON | Halifax: H. Bowen, C. Treasure, J. Lees, R. Wilde, E. Hall, T. Langford, G. Vallis, M. Ellson, E. Dixon, E. Price, J. Whalley
Attendance: 5,000 |
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