Dave Priestley's match report on the demolition of Daisy Hill in the Worthington Challenge Trophy.
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Even without star striker Carl Howarth, the Blues still had sufficient firepower to overwhelm their opponents and ran riot with four goals for Dave Gray, three for Lee Coldridge, and one for Stuart Mulligan.
The unluckiest man on the field was Glen Little, who struck the woodwork of the visitors goal three times during the match.
After a tentative opening period Nelson took the lead when Gray finished an end to end move with a firm angled shot on 16 minutes, and five minutes later Little saw his first effort deflected onto the post by keeper Carl Johnson.
However, the pressure on Johnson's goal was mounting, and Nelson increased their lead after 26 minutes when Coldridge's clever flick-on released Gray, and his powerful short found the net despite the best efforts of Johnson.
Daisy Hill rode their luck during a series of Nelson attacks, when the ball ricocheted around the visitors penalty area, and were let off the hook on 35 minutes when Coldridge shot wide of an open goal with the most glaring miss of the game.
With a half-time score of 2-0 though, Daisy Hill were still in contention, and briefly threatened the Blues' goal with rare counter attacks, but John Bailey's side knocked the stuffing out of them with a second half onslaught.
A build-up of accurate passes on the ground between Dave Leigh and Coldridge ended with a simple tap-in at the far post for Gray to complete his hat-trick and open the floodgates.
Nelson's recent signing from Accrington Stanley Adrian Cheetham showed some good touches, and he came in for some rough treatment when felled by a late tackle on the hour as desperation began to creep into the visiting ranks.
Little broke clear and lobbed the keeper but the ball came back off the crossbar, then on 66 minutes his cross from the left was headed expertly into the top corner by Coldridge to give Nelson a four goal advantage.
One minute later it was five when Paul Sconce crossed from the byline, and Stuart Mulligan blasted the ball home at the far post.
Daisy Hill's frustration got the better of them and defender Steve Obertelli was sent off for dissent following the goal.
On 73 minutes however, the visitors pulled one back when Craig Thomas caught the Nelson defence napping with a first time shot to make it 5-1, but two minutes later the Blues struck again when Leigh released Coldridge in the area, and the winger finished well with a low shot just inside the far post.
Three minutes later Coldridge completed his hat-trick, blasting home from close range after Gray had set him up after a foray down the left wing.
After 80 minutes Little hit the woodwork for the third time after turning well and shooting from inside the area. Four minutes later he turned provider, unselfishly allowing Gray the chance to fire Nelson's eighth goal - his fourth - to complete the scoring.
Nelson will now look forward to meeting Newcastle Town in the second round of the competition on 2nd November and testing themselves against First Division opposition.
