Dave Priestley's match report on Nelson's Worthington Trophy defeat against Newcastle Town.
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Newcastle Town were made to look second best for most of the first half when the Blues played their best football.
With the Blues dictating the play and creating some good chances, the pressure mounted when Glen Little and Damien Moran combined to force a corner after 17 minutes, and Andy Haworth converted the cross with a far post header to give Nelson the lead.
John Bailey's side looked for a second goal, and visiting centre-half John Diskin was relieved to head Carl Howarth's dangerous cross over his own goal after 22 minutes,
Newcastle however came to life when a long ball was headed on to send Ian Banks clear of the home defence, but keeper Simon Burrows made a good save to deny the midfielder an equaliser.
Nelson's defence did not heed the warning though, and within a minute Andy Bott found himself unmarked inside the area and blasted in the equaliser with 26 minutes gone.
The Blues continued to play good football and build well from midfield, with Chris Clark almost restoring the lead when his low shot was deflected just past the post in a crowded Newcastle penalty area on 34 minutes.
An anxious moment came on 37 when Burrows was forced to make a point-blank save from Michael Lennon before the ball was eventually scrambled clear from the goalmouth.
With the scores level at half-time, Nelson made the perfect start to the second half. In the first attack, Lee Coldridge took on defender Dean Gillick and was brought down by a late tackle in the penalty area.
Andy Haworth confidently fired home the resulting spot kick to give the Blues a 2-1 lead, which looked like it might be enough in the rapidly worsening conditions.
The mud hampered both sides but Nelson put together a great build up on the hour which finished with a ball slipped through to Andy Haworth on the edge of the area, but visiting keeper Paul Cooper was alert to the danger and blocked the final shot.
After 70 minutes Simon Burrows made a spectacular save to knock a shot by Bott round the post after the striker had been given a clear sight of goal.
Five minutes later however and Burrows could do nothing about a 35-yard lob by Banks from out on the touchline which found the top corner of the Nelson goal for the second equaliser at 2-2.
With Newcastle doing most of the attacking the pressure paid off after 79 minutes when a misplaced throw by the Nelson keeper gave Banks the chance to fire in a low shot to give his side a 3-2 lead.
Nelson desperately pushed forward looking for a goal to rescue the situation but only succeeded in giving more room to the visiting fowards, and Bott took full advantage after 85 minutes, taking the ball clear and scoring his second goal to make the final score 4-2 to Newcastle Town.
Once again Nelson seemed to run out of steam against a side from a higher division who paced themselves better and finished the game stronger.
