Nelson secured extra-time victory at Leek to progress into the first round proper of the NWC League Cup.
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It was a close finish to a game which the Blues looked to have sewn up just after the interval when they led 2-0, but they were pegged back by two quick goals from a resurgent home side to take the tie beyond ninety minutes.
Nelson started well and created several half chances in the opening stages, with Paul Fildes and Paul Barrett giving the Leek defence problems, but it was the home side who had the clearer chances and they might have taken the lead when Peter Heler shot wide from inside the Nelson penalty area on 21 minutes.
Martin Brown was outstanding in the Blues defence during this period, with some vital tackles to cut out the threat of Leek's attacks.
The game swung back in Nelson's favour and Leek were fortunate when Andy Haworth's high ball into the penalty area was headed wide of the keeper and against his own post by a home defender on 27 minutes.
As the Blues enjoyed a period of domination it was Fildes who cashed in with the opening goal, beating several defenders as he cut in from the left wing and delayed his shot until the keeper committed himself before calmly chipping the ball past him to give Nelson the lead after 32 minutes.
Billy Carrington was quickly called into action at the other end, smothering a shot by Alan Nagington as he slipped through a Nelson defence waiting in vain for an offside flag.
Danny Whittaker did well to block Heler's shot just before half-time, and it was Nelson who went further ahead five minutes after the break.
Barrett did well to win the ball and hold it up on the edge of the area, before laying it back for Steve Whittaker to drive hard and low under the body of the keeper to double Nelson's lead.
Leek came more into the game and showed their threat as an attacking force but still looked vulnerable in defence and Nelson might have added further goals as John Harding shot just wide on 65 minutes and Richard Bradley forced a great save from the keeper with a 25-yard shot just five minutes later.
However, on 75 minutes Leek's Lee Fowler made a good run on the left wing and crossed to the far post where Nagington headed home powerfully to reduce the arrears.
Things got worse for the Blues just three minutes later when a Leek free kick was knocked high into the Nelson area and Heler outjumped Carrington to win the ball in the air before Nagington headed into the net to level at 2-2.
Five minutes later the Blues almost restored their lead when Barrett and Steve Whittaker combined to provide the chance for Bradley to blast a shot goalward from 20 yards out, but Leek keeper Matt Johnson made a great save to turn it over the bar.
As the game went into extra time, Haworth picked up an injury, hampering Nelson's midfield, and Leek looked likely to take advantage when Heler drew defenders out of position and released Steven Plant for a run on goal, but Carrington came out to make a great save and clear the danger.
In the second period, Nelson started stronger, and Fildes released Barrett with a great pass into the penalty area, but his shot was deflected off a defender for a corner.
Leek's releif was short lived though, as the corner kick found the head of Danny Whittaker on the six-yard line, and he headed firmly into the roof of the net to put the Blues 3-2 up on 108 minutes.
Nelson still had some defending to do, but were determined not to let their lead slip again and they actually almost sealed the game with another goal in the final few minutes. Steve Whittaker finished a great run with a shot past the Leek keeper, but it was cleared off the line by a home defender.
Nevertheless Nelson were happy to take the tie, and now look forward to meeting Warrington Town, in Cheshire, in the First Round proper on Saturday November 1st.
